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Eric C. Bauman has been a contentious figure from the start as leader of the California Democratic Party. He won after a tough fight with a more liberal competitor — there were shouts of “not my chairman” as he gave his victory speech. And he has been criticized as being an old-school political boss, and as too mainstream for a party moving to the left.

But Mr. Bauman is now facing the most serious threat to his leadership yet: allegations of sexual harassment and abuse. The anonymous charges, from California Democratic Party staff members, were filed with the party’s leadership by Daraka Larimore-Hall, vice chairman of the Democratic Party.

Mr. Larimore-Hall said in a statement on Saturday that he had learned of “multiple serious and credible allegations” that Mr. Bauman had sexually harassed and in some cases sexually assaulted people at party events. He said Mr. Bauman was involved in witness tampering as well.

“I believe the victims,” he said. Mr. Larimore-Hall said he would not name them.

Mr. Bauman said in a statement that an outside law firm — Churchwell White, based in Sacramento — had been retained to investigate the allegations. “A prompt, thorough and independent investigation of the allegations has been undertaken by a respected outside investigator, ensuring these individuals making the charges are treated with respect and free from any concerns of retaliation,” he said.