Ex-Nancy Pelosi aide accused of sexual assault

One of U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) former aides has just been accused of sexual assault. 

In fact, the alleged victim claims that Pelosi's former aide sexually assaulted her at least twice.

This is according to a new report from the San Francisco Chronicle. The outlet's reporting is based on a police report that has been filed by the alleged victim, Zahra Hajee - a former aide to U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA).

The accused is Kevin Ortiz, who is not only a former staffer of Pelosi but is also the co-president of the Latinx Democratic Club.

The allegations

The incidents, according to Hajee, took place in 2021, when both Hajee and Ortiz met each other while working as political aides. Hajee, at the time, was working for state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-CA), while Ortize was working for Pelosi.

"Hajee told police and the Chronicle that Ortiz sexually assaulted her during encounters at her apartment in March and April 2021, soon after they met," the Chronicle reports.

In early March 2021, after a night out together, they both ended up at Hajee's place, where Ortiz allegedly "touched her breasts and 'put his hands in my pants,' while she repeatedly pushed his hands, arms, and body away." Then, another similar incident is said to have taken place about two months later.

The Washington Examiner reports that Hajee is not the only woman to have brought sexual assault allegations against Ortiz.

Per the outlet:

This isn’t the first time Ortiz has been accused of inappropriate behavior . . . [A] second woman alleged that Ortiz sexually assaulted her in 2019. She has declined to reveal her identity or file a police report. Ortiz has rejected her accusations as well . . .

Ortiz pleads innocent

Ortiz has yet to put out a public statement about the allegations.

But, he has, through his attorney, professed his innocence.

The Chronicle reports:

Ortiz declined the Chronicle’s interview requests, but through an attorney, he denied the allegations and provided a reporter with text messages he says show that the two encounters were consensual.

It remains to be seen how this will play out, but the Chronicle reports that the accusations by Hajee against Ortiz have already, "at least temporarily, "cost him a seat on a local nonprofit board."

We will have to see if Ortiz is going to face more negative consequences for his alleged actions or whether he will be able to fend off the allegations.