Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra will not seek re-election, amid investigations into allegations that he sexually harassed other women, even after being disciplined in 2009 for allegedly groping a fellow lawmaker’s legislative staffer.

Bocanegra said he will resign in about a year, on Sept. 1, 2018, and “immediately” step down from his “leadership position.” The Assemblyman serves as the legislative body’s majority whip.

“I am also suspending my campaign and will not run for re-election,” he wrote in a message Monday on his Facebook page.

Bocanegra put out the statement ahead of a Los Angeles Times report detailing the accounts of six women who said they also were the subject of sexual misconduct from him. The women accused him of actions ranging from persistently asking for dates to unwanted touching.

In his statement, Bocanegra only referenced the 2009 sexual harassment complaint by Elise Gyore, who was a staffer at the time for state Senator Ron Calderon.

“As you may know, news stories were reported a few weeks ago about a regrettable encounter when I was a legislative staffer in 2009,” he wrote.

Bocanegra said the incident was one that “I truly regret, that I am very sorry for, and for which I have accepted responsibility for my actions.”

But following a Times report released later that day detailing allegations from six other women, Bocanegra is facing sanctions and could potentially be expelled from office if the Assembly investigation backs up the claims.

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon announced Monday that while the “independent investigation” into the new allegations are ongoing, he is stripping Bocanegra of his position as majority whip, and removing him from his committee assignments.

“These allegations are extremely disturbing, especially since they come after Mr. Bocanegra had previously been investigated and disciplined as a staff member and agreed to stop any harassing or abusive behavior,” Rendon said in a statement.

The Speaker said he is “also asking Assembly Human Resources to reach out to Mr. Bocanegra’s staff to ensure they feel safe in their work environment.”

Rendon said that while the decision to do so would be difficult, “make no mistake: If the investigation affirms the allegations, I will move to immediately expel Mr. Bocanegra from the Assembly.”

An aide to Rendon said an investigation had already been ongoing for one of the six women, but more will likely be launched into the other cases.

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A representative for Bocanegra did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the additional allegations and investigations.

The Times presented information to Bocanegra’s office on Friday about the six additional women who had accused Bocanegra of sexual harassment.

The new allegations complicate Bocanegra’s own claim that he was remorseful and learned from the 2009 incident. Bocanegra last month issued a statement to media outlets saying the incident “was something I regret and learned from,” and that he “will work closely with my colleagues” to see that sexual-harassment allegations are handled properly.

While chief of staff for then-Assembyman Felipe Fuentes in 2009, Calderon aide Gyore accused Bocanegra of putting his hand inside her blouse while at a Sacramento nightclub. Bocanegra was later disciplined after Gyore filed a complaint.

Rumors about the complaint came up during the 2012 campaign for the 39th Assembly district seat, although details apparently were not available until last month, when they were reported by the Times. Bocanegra won that election, securing his first term in the Assembly. He later lost the race for another consecutive term, but regained the seat in 2016.

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In recent weeks, there have been calls from some in his district that he resign. California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman was also reported last month saying that Bocanegra should “think long and hard” about whether he can continue to be effective in office.

The new allegations were made by women whose alleged experiences occurred after the 2009 incident for which Bocanegra was disciplined. They were not formally reported to the legislature nor to the authorities at the time they allegedly happened. But at least one woman has come forward in recent weeks to file a complaint with the Assembly.

The new allegations include an incident that purportedly occurred at the same Sacramento nightclub as the 2009 case, and another that allegedly happened during a party at the home of Gerardo Guzman, who has worked as a political consultant for Bocanegra and is now his district director. Guzman is also the husband of Councilwoman Nury Martinez. While some of the woman, or friends of the women, said they complained to or talked to Guzman at some point about the incidents, he denied to the Times he was told of or was aware of the alleged incidences. Guzman failed to respond to a question about one of the accounts.

Bocanegra, whose office did not respond to questions about the additional allegations, said in his statement earlier Monday that reports of the 2009 incident have “since fueled persistent rumors and speculation, and I do not believe that this is in the best interest of my constituents to continue to serve next term.”

“This is a very difficult decision,” he wrote. “But I know that it is the best decision for the northeast Valley residents.”

Bocanegra represents an area that includes Pacoima, Sylmar, Sun Valley, Sunland-Tujunga, Mission Hills, Arleta and the city of San Fernando.

He said that he decided to resign at the end of the “legislative term” in order to avoid a “costly special election” and to make sure the district still had representation. This decision was made through consulting with constituents and community members, and “after much discussion and reflection,” Bocanegra said.