Brian Snyder/Reuters
Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA) has confirmed he is the subject of a lawsuit filed last week in Los Angeles alleging he sexually molested a teenage girl in 2007, but has strongly denied the allegations. The young woman said she came forward with the allegations because of the #MeToo movement and she wants to “to be a strong role model” for her daughter. Cardenas’ lawyer went on the offensive and claimed the woman is the daughter of a “disgruntled former employee” and said that she “may be the victim of manipulation.” Attorney Patricia Glaser said: “My client is sickened and distraught by these horrific allegations, which are 100 percent, categorically untrue.” She added: “We respect victims who have found the strength to come forward and call out misconduct when it has actually occurred, but the type of baseless and reckless allegations that are contained in the complaint against my client can ruin the lives and careers of innocent people.”