LOS ANGELES – It is being reported that the former chair of the California Democratic Party has passed away.
The news was shared on the social media account of political strategist Mike Trujillo.
Bauman was, until 2018, the chair of the California Democratic Party. Previously he served as the vice chair of the state party (2009–2017) and chair of the Los Angeles Democratic Party (2000–2017), and was known for his influence in Los Angeles County Democratic politics.
He resigned as head of the California Democratic Party on November 29, 2018, following sexual misconduct allegations.
After the allegations surfaced, the party settled with three of his accusers in early 2020.
In one of the cases involving three plaintiffs—Tina McKinnor, the party’s former operations director; John Vigna, its former communications director; and Spencer Dayton, an activist—who alleged sexual assault, harassment, and racial discrimination, the state Democratic Party is paying more than $1 million to settle, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
In addition, the state party said it has come to a settlement agreement with William Floyd, who alleged he was sexually assaulted by former party Chairman Eric Bauman, who resigned in late 2018, on multiple occasions while serving as his personal assistant.
The third case involved Brendan Stepp, a video editor who had been employed by the party and claimed Mr. Bauman repeatedly made unwanted sexual advances and harassed him.
Plaintiffs’ attorneys in all three cases confirmed settlements were reached or dismissal motions were filed recently.
Another settlement, in which the party paid nearly $380,000 to three former employees who also alleged discrimination and harassment by Mr. Bauman, was reached in the fall and disclosed in campaign-finance filings.
Mr. Floyd first worked for Mr. Bauman when Mr. Bauman was chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party and continued to work for him when his boss was elected state party chair in 2017. He claimed in his suit that he was repeatedly groped and sexually assaulted by Mr. Bauman.
