California State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil is facing a serious legal challenge as her former chief of staff, Chad Condit, has filed a lawsuit alleging that she coerced him into performing sexual favors in exchange for job security.
The lawsuit, filed last week in Sacramento Superior Court, claims that this relationship resulted in severe physical injuries for Condit.
According to the lawsuit, Condit, who worked closely with Alvarado-Gil, was subjected to coercive demands for sexual acts during work-related travel.
Alvarado-Gil, a Democrat who recently switched to the Republican Party, is accused of pressuring Condit into these acts over several years, which the lawsuit describes as part of a “sex-based quid pro quo relationship.”
The lawsuit details that during their final encounter, Condit suffered a significant back injury while performing oral sex on Alvarado-Gil in a car. The injury allegedly resulted in three herniated discs and a collapsed hip, leaving Condit with debilitating pain and physical impairments.
In August of the previous year, Condit reportedly began using his back injury as a reason to refuse Alvarado-Gil’s sexual advances. The lawsuit alleges that this led to retaliation from Alvarado-Gil, who issued a disciplinary letter accusing Condit of inappropriate behavior, despite his claims of being subjected to unwanted advances.
The situation allegedly escalated, leading to Condit’s dismissal in December. The lawsuit claims that Alvarado-Gil terminated Condit’s employment after he made it clear that he no longer wanted to participate in the sexual demands and was undergoing surgery for his back injury.
The lawsuit portrays Alvarado-Gil as an “erratic” and “controlling” boss who exercised a “sexually dominating abuse of authority and power” over Condit. This characterization of the senator paints a troubling picture of the power dynamics in their working relationship.
Condit, who is the son of former Congressman Gary Condit, began working for Alvarado-Gil during her Senate campaign in 2022. He was appointed chief of staff following her election to the Senate.
Alvarado-Gil’s attorney, Ognian Gavrilov, has responded to the allegations by labeling them as a fabrication.
Gavrilov described Condit as a disgruntled former employee who has concocted a story to gain financially. “We expect the senator will be completely cleared of these baseless, financially motivated claims,” Gavrilov stated.
The senator, who represents a largely rural district northeast of the Central Valley, made headlines last month for leaving the Democratic Party. Alvarado-Gil cited dissatisfaction with her former party’s current leadership and policies as reasons for her departure.
The lawsuit adds to Alvarado-Gil’s recent controversies, including her switch to the Republican Party, which has drawn significant public and media attention.
Her decision to leave the party has been framed as a response to changes she perceived as inconsistent with her values.
The ongoing legal battle and its implications for Alvarado-Gil’s political career are likely to be closely watched. As the case progresses, it will shed light on the allegations and the senator’s response to the claims made by her former staffer.
The lawsuit’s outcome could have significant repercussions not only for Alvarado-Gil but also for the broader political landscape, especially in light of her recent party switch and the serious nature of the allegations.
