A California state senator is facing serious allegations from a former staffer who claims she coerced him into a “sex-based quid pro quo relationship” that resulted in both physical and emotional harm.
The lawsuit, filed by Chad Condit, the ex-chief of staff to Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil, accuses the lawmaker of forcing him to engage in sexual acts over the course of their professional relationship.
Sexual coercion and retaliation alleged
The lawsuit, submitted to Sacramento Superior Court last week, paints a troubling picture of Sen. Alvarado-Gil, a Democrat-turned-Republican, who allegedly pressured Condit into performing sexual favors during work-related trips.
According to Condit, these encounters were non-consensual and coerced as part of a quid pro quo arrangement aimed at maintaining his employment. Condit, who is married, claims he felt compelled to comply with Alvarado-Gil’s advances to protect his job. “This was a sex-based quid pro quo relationship of unwelcome advances and sexual behaviors coupled with punishment and flexing of power,” the lawsuit states.
Serious physical injuries claimed
The most severe incident detailed in the lawsuit occurred during what Condit describes as their final sexual encounter. He alleges that while performing oral sex on the senator in a car, he sustained debilitating back and hip injuries, including three herniated discs and a collapsed hip.
These injuries, according to Condit, have left him with long-lasting physical damage. Condit reportedly began using his injuries as a reason to reject further advances from Alvarado-Gil in August 2022. He alleges that the senator retaliated by issuing a disciplinary letter accusing him of inappropriate behavior. He was ultimately fired in December 2022, after repeatedly making it clear that he could no longer tolerate the senator’s advances and was preparing for back surgery, the suit claims.
Portrayal of a “controlling” boss
In the lawsuit, Condit describes Alvarado-Gil as an “erratic” and “controlling” boss who used her authority to dominate and manipulate him sexually. The allegations depict a hostile work environment where Condit was allegedly subjected to repeated sexual misconduct at the hands of the senator, all under the threat of professional consequences. Sen. Alvarado-Gil’s attorney, Ognian Gavrilov, has strongly denied the allegations, characterizing them as baseless and financially motivated. “A disgruntled former employee has fabricated an outlandish story, presented without evidence, to get a payday,” Gavrilov said. “We expect that the senator will be fully cleared of any wrongdoing of these bogus, financially motivated claims.”
Political background adds to the complexity
The lawsuit comes on the heels of Alvarado-Gil’s recent high-profile defection from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. Representing a largely rural district northeast of California’s Central Valley, Alvarado-Gil made headlines last month when she announced her switch, citing dissatisfaction with the direction of the Democratic Party.
“In the past two years that I’ve been working in the Senate, I have not recognized the party that I belong to,” the lawmaker said in a public statement at the time. “The Democratic Party is not the party that I signed up for decades ago.” Chad Condit, the plaintiff in the case, is the son of former Congressman Gary Condit (D-Calif.), adding further political intrigue to the case. The senior Condit was a central figure in California politics, and his son’s allegations against Sen. Alvarado-Gil have drawn significant media attention. As the legal battle unfolds, both sides are preparing for what is expected to be a high-stakes and closely watched trial.