Ex-Garcetti aide says former LA mayor ‘unfit to become an ambassador’

A former Eric Garcetti aide, who has accused the previous Los Angeles mayor of ignoring allegations of sexual harassment throughout his time in workplace, stated Monday that he’s “unfit” to turn into US ambassador to India amid his embattled nomination.

“He’s unfit to turn into an envoy or actually to carry public workplace anyplace on this nation or this world,” Naomi Seligman, a former communication’s director for Garcetti, informed CNN’s Jake Tapper on “The Lead.”

CNN reported final yr that the preliminary nomination of Garcetti, a Democrat, by President Joe Biden had confronted headwinds over issues centered on accusations that he had ignored alleged sexual harassment and bullying. The Senate International Relations Committee permitted his nomination for a second time final week, with two Republicans voting with Democrats in favor of advancing Garcetti to the Senate ground.

Notably, a key Democratic holdout – Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York – stated she would assist the nomination after expressing confidence within the assessment of Garcetti carried out by the international relations panel.

Seligman, a self-proclaimed lifelong Democrat, stated she briefed almost a 3rd of the Senate on the alleged misconduct in Garcetti’s workplace, and known as it “devastating” to see lawmakers from her social gathering push on along with his nomination.

“Sadly, the White Home has put undue stress on Democrats to vote for Eric Garcetti as a result of Eric Garcetti has been a really, very loyal particular person to President Biden, and that’s unlucky,” she informed Tapper. “These senators that purport to assist #MeToo can not simply do it when it’s politically expedient. They must do it when it issues, even when it’s your personal political social gathering.”

White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, when requested final week concerning the nomination, stated Garcetti is “effectively certified to serve on this important position” and urged the Senate to maneuver ahead to substantiate him.

“The president nominated him as a result of he thought he had the expertise to be the US ambassador to India,” Jean-Pierre stated.

All through the prolonged technique of Senate consideration of Garcetti’s nomination, the White Home has stood steadfastly behind the previous Los Angeles mayor. Garcetti has repeatedly denied any information of the allegations and has met personally with senators in an effort to clear a path to affirmation.

The White Home didn’t have an instantaneous touch upon Seligman’s interview.

Seligman on Monday detailed her time serving in Garcetti’s workplace, saying she was current when Garcetti witnessed his onetime deputy chief of employees and longtime political adviser “contact individuals, hug individuals, kiss individuals.”

“We had been in a piece atmosphere the place sexual harassment and abuse was tolerated, enabled and ubiquitous. It was as frequent as checking your texts,” she informed Tapper. “It was a really laborious, disappointing and poisonous atmosphere the place Mayor Garcetti enabled, tolerated and at instances laughed concerning the abuse by his prime aide and confidant, Rick Jacobs.”

Jacobs stepped down from his political work for Garcetti within the fall of 2020 – a number of months after a lawsuit was filed towards him and the town by LAPD Officer and former Garcetti bodyguard Matthew Garza, who alleged Jacobs made “crude sexual remarks” and inappropriately touched him, The Los Angeles Instances reported final yr. Jacobs has beforehand denied harassing anybody and that civil lawsuit is ongoing.

Because the allegations had been being investigated, Seligman alleged in a deposition that Jacobs had repeatedly harassed her whereas she labored at Metropolis Corridor from 2015 to 2017, in line with a employees report from Iowa GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley’s workplace final yr. She acknowledged that Jacobs’ conduct included “undesirable hugs, kisses (and) sexual feedback.” One incident included “a chronic kiss on the lips with out her consent in entrance of a number of employees members,” the report acknowledged.

CORRECTION: This story has been up to date to mirror that Seligman was referring to the #MeToo motion in a reference to assist from Democratic senators.