The San Francisco Latinx Democratic Club has reinstated Kevin Ortiz as its president following an investigation by a special committee into sexual assault allegations that surfaced last year. The committee, composed of club members and external experts from a sexual violence prevention organization, did not find evidence to support the claims against Ortiz. The club's statement, however, does not disclose the members involved or the supporting organization, as reported by the Mission Local.
Ortiz's reinstatement comes after a period of speculation and concern within the community, with the allegations initially becoming public in a San Francisco Chronicle article last summer. Ortiz stepped down shortly after Zahra Hajee, a former aide to Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, and another anonymous individual brought the accusations to light. According to a Mission Local interview, Hajee decided not to partake in the internal investigation, citing concerns of bias and noting her uncomfortable feelings about the club's handling of the issue.
The club's investigation included guidelines to prevent conflicts of interest and protect participants' privacy. The details of the investigation's Code of Conduct and the specific scope of investigation are available on the club's website and linked to the special investigation committee's initial announcement. Despite Ortiz agreeing to participate in the investigative process, Hajee refrained from involvement, casting doubt upon the committee's findings for some. The club has also committed to additional training recommended by their partners, which includes mandatory annual sexual harassment training alongside "insight building" training as part of the recommendations following the investigation, as mentioned by The San Francisco Latinx Democratic Club.
Responses to the investigation's findings and Ortiz's return have been mixed. Hajee expressed her disappointment publicly, saying, "It is upsetting yet unsurprising to see [the Latinx Democratic Club’s] lack of courage by reinstating the man who sexually assaulted me as their organization’s leader," as per Mission Local. Tony Brass, Ortiz's attorney, has maintained his client's innocence, highlighting text message exchanges that suggest Ortiz was cautious about engaging with Hajee when she may have been under the influence. These exchanges occurred a few months after the alleged assaults. Editor's Note: The image in this article has been updated for relevance.
