Local Politics · Downey, CA
Former Assembly Staffer Sues Downey Rep. Pacheco Over Alleged Retaliation
Ari Ruiz Reyes, former district director for Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco of Downey, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging retaliation and a hostile work environment by Pacheco and her chief of staff Nikki Johnson. The suit claims Ruiz Reyes was subjected to a theft investigation after returning from medical leave, stripped of duties, excluded from meetings, and fired in June after reporting the conduct to the Legislature's Workplace Conduct Unit. The workplace unit closed his complaint in February without conducting an investigation, stating there was not enough information to support a connection to a protected class. Pacheco declined to comment citing employee privacy; the Assembly stated it disputes the allegations and intends to defend against the suit.