Female Union Leader Allegedly Threatened Her Husband’s Accuser

San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher Resigns Following Sexual Assault Allegations

San Diego County supervisor Nathan Fletcher (D.) has resigned after facing sexual assault accusations from several women. One of the accusers, Grecia Figueroa, says that Fletcher’s wife, a powerful union leader, tried to intimidate her into not reporting the assault.

According to the lawsuit filed by Figueroa, California Labor Federation chief Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher threatened to make her “look terrible” if she filed a complaint against Nathan Fletcher. She says that the former supervisor made unwanted sexual advances towards her since 2021 and assaulted her twice. The allegations have led to Fletcher’s resignation from his position, which could also lead to issues for Gonzalez Fletcher.

Gonzalez Fletcher is currently fighting to defend the controversial California law AB 5, which she helped craft during her time in the State Assembly. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently solicited challenges to the law, arguing that it would force companies to treat independent contractors as hourly employees. Critics expressed concerns of financial strain on gig workers as a result of the law. President Joe Biden, whose pick for the president of the Department of Labor, Julie Su, worked with Gonzalez Fletcher on the creation of AB 5, is pushing for a national version of the law.

Figueroa, who was a former employee of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, accuses Fletcher of making unwanted sexual advances at her agency’s public meetings, which he presided over as agency board chairman. She also claims that Fletcher assaulted her twice in agency offices and that she was fired abruptly in February, the same day that Fletcher announced his State Senate campaign.

Gonzalez Fletcher allegedly threatened to sue Figueroa for extortion if she proceeded with a complaint and stated that she would make her “look terrible.” This was days before Figueroa’s complaint was made public. Fletcher denied all allegations of sexual assault, claiming that he and Figueroa were engaged in a consensual affair. Gonzalez Fletcher echoed his claims and accused his accusers of making “false accusations.”

Gonzalez Fletcher’s past statements on sexual assault contradict her current stance. She previously stated that “any unwanted sexual contact is sexual assault” and that it is rare for women to make allegations of sexual assault. Representatives for Fletcher and Gonzalez Fletcher have yet to comment on the allegations.