California Dem lawmaker was racist to staff, gave ‘unwanted hug’ to staffer who also got ‘body-checked’ by colleague: suit

See more of our coverage in your search results.

A California Democratic lawmaker is accused of allowing rampant racial discrimination against her black employees — including a whistleblower who was allegedly “body-checked” by a colleague she reported for doing campaign work on taxpayers’ dime.

Assemblymember Anamarie Ávila Farías, a freshman Democrat from Concord, is accused of retaliating against her former district director, Pa’tanisha Davis Pierson, after she reported suspected campaign misconduct to the state Assembly’s human resources department.

The lawsuit, filed last week in Contra Costa County Superior Court, also accuses the lawmaker’s office of racial discrimination, alleging black employees were routinely mistreated, handed undesirable assignments and bullied out of their jobs.

“Black employees were assigned less desirable and more time-consuming work than non-Black employees,” the complaint alleges.

Davis Pierson also claims black interns received less recognition than their non-black colleagues and that she witnessed black employees “being yelled at and pressured or driven from their positions.”

The alleged retaliation began after Davis Pierson reported on Sept. 29, 2025, that field representative Jessica Cisneros was performing campaign work for Ávila Farías during state-paid working hours from inside the lawmaker’s taxpayer-funded district office.

Within weeks, Davis Pierson claims, the lawmaker began stripping her of supervisory responsibilities and isolating her from colleagues.

But the alleged harassment soon turned violent, according to the lawsuit.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

On Nov. 13, 2025, Cisneros — the same employee Davis Pierson had reported for suspected campaign misconduct — allegedly confronted her in a hallway at the district office.

“Staff member Jessica Cisneros intentionally made offensive physical contact with [Davis Pierson] by body-checking her in a district-office hallway,” the lawsuit states.

The alleged encounter occurred just 10 days after the Assembly’s Workplace Conduct Unit opened an investigation into Davis Pierson’s whistleblower complaint.

Cisneros remains employed by Ávila Farías, according to CalMatters.

Davis Pierson also claims Ávila Farías personally subjected her to unwanted physical contact months later. On Jan. 5, the lawmaker allegedly forced Davis Pierson into a hug despite their ongoing workplace conflict, according to the complaint.

Assembly officials also retaliated against Davis Pierson after she disclosed a medical condition and requested accommodations, including time off for a medical procedure, a hybrid work schedule and restrictions on lifting, the complaint states.

Officials allegedly revoked her previously approved schedule, denied requested accommodations and subjected her to increased scrutiny.

Davis Pierson — who is currently working as an administrative law judge, according to her attorney — also claims she was subsequently confronted with performance criticisms over activities that had previously been authorized by management.

She submitted her resignation in April, saying the relentless discrimination, retaliation and hostile working conditions had effectively forced her out of the job.

Ávila Farías has denied the accusations.

“I vigorously deny the allegations and will defend against them through the appropriate legal process,” the assemblymember told CalMatters in an emailed statement.

Ávila Farías, who has taken up controversial positions such as barring ICE agents from later becoming cops or teachers in California, also defended her hiring practices, saying her staff is among the most diverse in the Legislature and reflects the communities of Contra Costa County.

Officials in the Assemblymember’s office did not immediately respond to The California Post’s request for comment.

The lawsuit names both Ávila Farías and the California Assembly as defendants and allegations include whistleblower retaliation, racial discrimination, harassment and disability discrimination.

Davis Pierson’s attorneys declined comment Thursday, noting that the filing speaks for itself.

Ávila Farías, who took office in December 2024, is seeking reelection Nov. 3 in her heavily Democratic East Bay district.