This is nonsense. Sen. Kamala Harris is being dragged into a sexual assault case at the law firm where her husband works. Make that the giant multinational law firm where her husband works.
Attorney Vanina Guerrero says that she was repeatedly assaulted by Louis Lehot, the co-managing partner at the Palo Alto office of global law firm DLA Piper. She’s seeking to be released from the firm’s mandatory arbitration rules so that she has a better chance at justice—and that should happen. But literally the only connection between Harris and the case in question is that Douglas Emhoff, her husband, is one of DLA Piper’s 401 equity partners. Emhoff is based out of a different office and in a different practice area.
Guerrero’s lawyer, Jeanne Christensen, seems to have seen Harris as a way to get extra leverage in pressing her client’s case, and is calling on Harris to “support Ms. Guerrero and let DLA Piper know that time is up for its draconian policy that disproportionately protects male predators at the expense of women.” Harris is already on the record in opposition to mandatory arbitration, and a spokesperson reiterated her position in response, saying “Senator Harris has been and continues to be a staunch advocate for survivors and believes all people must be guaranteed their day in court. She has long opposed forced arbitration agreements and that position has not changed and she does not believe this is any exception.”
But just as forced arbitration agreements are terrible, so is Christensen using the added scrutiny and vulnerability of lousy media coverage a woman running for president faces to gain a little leverage in a case not actually related to her. Bad move by Christensen and bad move by anyone who treats it as a real ding against Harris.