On January 9th, the Republican Party of Los Angeles County called on Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Rolling Hills Estates) and Christy Smith, Democratic candidate for Assembly District 38, to return all donations given to them by disgraced former Assembly Members Raul Bocanegra and Matt Dababneh.

“Muratsuchi and Smith’s silence and willingness to accept political contributions from two disgraced Assemblymen speaks volumes,” said Zaira Cedano, Executive Director of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County. “If Smith and Muratsuchi believe the women making the allegations, they should immediately condemn their former colleagues’ alleged actions and return all donations Dababneh and Bocanegra have made to their campaigns.”

According to the Secretary of State, Muratsuchi has accepted $16,600 from Dababneh and $12,600 from Bocanegra since 2014. Smith has received $4,000 from Dababneh since 2016.
Dababneh resigned earlier this month after being accused of sexual harassment by multiple women, one of whom alleged that Dababneh trapped her in a bathroom and forced her to watch him masturbate. Dababneh has since been accused by additional women of further sexual harassment and assault.

Bocanegra resigned from the Assembly last month after a number of women accused him of sexual assault.