Dante Acosta was Mayor Pro Temp of Santa Clarita and ran for the California Assembly in 2016. He lost to Democrat Christy Smith in 2018. He also ran for Congress in 2012, but failed. He’s currently serving on the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency board, an appointed position. In 2016, Jennifer Van Laar accused him of sexual harassment. Van Laar is a Republican consultant and reporter, most known for publishing the Katie Hill revenge porn. She made the allegation privately in an e-mail but the email was published. Acosta denied the allegations and shared his texts to her. She filed a defamation suit against him that is not yet resolved.
The LA Times headline seems to suggest this was a partisan play, but Van Laar is a Republican, and not a moderate Republican. She is managing editor for Red State, is associated with Turning Point, USA, and of course, published the Katie Hill story.
- L. A. Times: Republican candidate faces sexual harassment allegations in heated Santa Clarita Assembly race
- Eyewitness News 7: Santa Clarita Mayor Pro Tem Dante Acosta rebuts sexual misconduct claims amid assembly run
Ventura County Star
Ventura, California · Thursday, November 03, 2016
