Advertisement Calif. lawmaker accused of domestic violence refuses to take leave Democrat Assemblymember Roger Hernandez represents San Gabriel Valley Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A California Assemblymember accused of domestic violence rejected calls from fellow legislators Thursday to take a leave of absence."That might be a good idea if the allegations were true, but they're not," Assemblymember Roger Hernandez told KCRA 3.Hernandez is a three-term Democrat who represents parts of the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County.He is going through a divorce with his wife, Susan Rubio, a member of the the Baldwin Park City Council.Last week, Rubio obtained a restraining order against Hernandez."And in California, you don't need any evidence for a restraining order," Hernandez said.He noted he was not facing any criminal charges.On Thursday morning, the chair and vice chair of the Women's Legislative Caucus called on Hernandez to resign his leadership positions and take a leave of absence.State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, and Assembly Member Cristina Garcia, D-Bell Gardens, issued a joint statement saying:"While a determination is still pending on these most recent allegations and we respect his right to due process, it’s important that the Legislature send a strong and consistent message to victims about our commitment to confronting domestic violence and demonstrate that we take allegations seriously when they occur among one of our own.”Jackson and Garcia declined to comment further.Representatives for the two lawmakers said the statement was not issued on behalf of the entire caucus, which has not voted on the matter."Miss Garcia and Sen. Jackson have every right to their opinion. I don't believe they represent the majority of the women in the Assembly," Hernandez said.Term limits will force Hernandez from the Assembly later this year and he is currently running for Congress.In 2012, he was arrested on a drunken driving charge in the East Bay city of Concord, but a jury later found him not guilty.That same year, a former girlfriend accused him of striking her with a belt."I'm glad you brought that up. The woman that made the accusation retracted," Hernandez said.