Assemblyman Jim Cooper threatens a just, safe and equitable California.

Cooper’s record during his time in law enforcement and politics raises troubling concerns about his ethics, temperament and conduct — including allegations of sexual harassment, conflicts of interest, nepotism, intimidation and self-dealing.

Women are among those who fare the worst under Jim Cooper’s policies and leadership — which has spawned formal complaints, lawsuits and one of the largest settlements in Sacramento history.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT + STRIP SEARCHES

• When Cooper was in law enforcement, a civilian employee accused him of sexual harassment after he grabbed his crotch in front of her and told her she needed some “jungle love” before getting married.” He failed to mention the complaint she filed against him for this incident in a recent questionnaire sent to California lawmakers running for reelection.
• Under Cooper’s watch as commander of the Sacramento County Jail, guards routinely conducted illegal, videotaped strip searches, including forcing some women to dance on camera. The county paid $15 million in taxpayer funds to settle a class action suit covering 16,000 people strip searched.
• Cooper’s positions on bills supporting women’s rights and fighting sexual harassment have been suspiciously noncommittal. In fact, when given the chance to vote on bills designed to combat employment discrimination, and prohibit the use of non-disclosure agreements in sexual harassment and misconduct suits, Cooper
  was absent.

SPECIAL INTERESTS + SELF-DEALING

Jim Cooper has a pattern of serving special interests over Californians. He sacrifices the good of the people in favor of industry — particularly oil and gas, and bail bonds.

• Cooper was the single largest recipient of corporate gifts in California’s legislature.
• Cooper intentionally skipped a critical vote on renewing the state’s rigorous climate goals after receiving tens of thousands of dollars from the petroleum industry.
• Cooper has received more than $40,000 from companies connected to the bail bonds industry, and was one of just eight Assembly Democrats to vote against bail reform in 2018.
• A personnel audit found that the state Board of Equalization committed nepotism in hiring Cooper’s daughter, who was rated last among six candidates, while the Board of Equalization was coming under scrutiny before Cooper’s state Budget Committee for mismanagement.
• Cooper has objected to laws promoting increased scrutiny of the police, including body cameras or independent investigations, despite the transparency and accountability they bring to the community. .

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS UNDER COOPER’S WATCH

Jim Cooper’s dangerous mismanagement during his time at Sacramento County Jail– including overseeing a troubling spike in suicides among inmates — prompted criminal investigations

• The rate of jail suicides jumped so high under Cooper’s leadership that it prompted a grand jury investigation.
• Under Cooper’s watch, guards routinely assaulted inmates, and the county paid out millions in taxpayer funds to cover dozens of settlements of excessive force.
• Cooper was subject to a grand jury investigation that found he had engaged in felony violations of conflict-of- interest laws as an Elk Grove City Council member.

COOPER’S STYLE: BULLYING & THREATS

Jim Cooper has a demonstrated record of using intimidation tactics and violent language to bully others and create hostile environments that are unsafe for those around him.

• A restraining order was filed against Cooper during his time as an undercover narcotics officer after being accused of harassment by a man who said Cooper threatened to “shoot him in the back of the head for no reason.”
• As mayor of Elk Grove, a Sacramento suburb, Cooper chased councilmember Dan Briggs down a hallway behind the Council Chambers, repeatedly jabbing him with his finger and calling him a “bitch.”