State Senator Bob Hertzberg has been told he cannot initiate hugs anymore after an investigation determined that his hugs had made two female legislators and a male sergeant-at-arms uncomfortable.
The investigation was launched into Hertzberg’s hugs after a Linda Halderman, a former Assemblywoman, alleged late last year that he pinned her in his arms and thrust his groin into her, according to the Sacramento Bee. Following her accusation, two additional lawmakers came forward to say that they felt Hertzberg’s hugs had gone too far with them too.
During the investigation another allegation against Hertzberg, a Democrat, came from a male sergeant-at-arms claiming that Hertzberg grinded up against him in a manner that was “unwelcome and offensive” to him. The claim was found to be likely true.
The Rules Committee reprimand Hertzberg, who has been counseled on unwanted touching three previous times, and they ordered that he “not to initiate hugs.”
Hertzberg sent a letter to “friends and colleagues” on Thursday saying that the investigation found his “motivation for hugging is not sexual in nature.”
“To the extent anyone has felt uncomfortable with any of my hugs, I apologize to them,” he told the LA Times. “I’ve never meant anything other than just warmth and human connection, which I think has value in society.”
