Race for California Lt. Gov. Exhumes Sexual Harassment Accusations Against State Treasurer Fiona Ma

California’s State Treasurer Fiona Ma is running for Lieutenant Governor.

Congressman Eric Swalwell, now a former candidate for California Governor, had charges of sexual harassment against him, the Globe reported, in #MeToo Part Deux? Dem Activists Accuse Rep Eric Swalwell of Sexual Harassment. They warned “many women” were preparing to come forward, but as we noted, it is political campaign season.

It turns out, at least 4–5 women came forward with claims of sexual misconduct against Swalwell.

“Rep. Swalwell may be a contemptible, despicable, opportunistic crappy boss, scumbag, with a history of a ‘Fang Fang bang bang,’ and a lavish lifestyle his bank accounts don’t appear large enough to afford, but these latest allegations feel a little too much like the #MeToo movement in 2018, where it appeared that female California politicians were behind it, even when they had their own closeted skeletons,” I said.

And I noted there have been several male politicians whose careers were ruined over sexual harassment charges during the #MeToo era.

Fiona Ma is currently running for Lieutenant Governor. And, Ma had sexual harassment charges levied against her as well.

In 2021, former employee Judith Blackwell sued California Treasurer Fiona Ma, alleging sexual harassment, including inappropriate touching and exposing herself in a hotel room. Ma consistently denied these claims as “baseless.”

Blackwell, head of the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, sued Ma and the Treasurer’s Office. She alleged sexual harassment during work-related hotel/Airbnb stays in shared rooms. Specific claims included Ma exposing her bare rear end multiple times, calling Blackwell into the bedroom, and once crawling into Blackwell’s bed while she slept, Politico reported. Additional claims involved gifts, and Blackwell’s eventual firing.

The state of California agreed to pay Blackwell $350,000 to settle her claims that Democratic state Treasurer Fiona Ma sexually harassed her, CBS News reported in August 2024.

“The agreement filed Friday in Sacramento County Superior Court stems from a 2021 lawsuit filed by a former state tax official — Judith Blackwell — who alleged Ma exposed herself and crawled into bed with her when they shared rooms at a hotel and a rental unit.”

Politico reported:

“Throughout the case Ma has maintained her innocence, and had been pushing for a trial to dismiss what she called “completely false and frivolous” claims. The court tossed the allegations of racial discrimination and wrongful termination last year. After months of trial delays, the move by Blackwell’s lawyers this week relieves Ma of the sexual harassment complaint.”

In another article, Politico reported:

“The California state treasurer is facing accusations of sexual harassment from a former employee, Judith Blackwell, and more than two years of court proceedings have not led to a resolution. Last month, after the two sides couldn’t reach a settlement agreement, a Sacramento Superior Court judge allowed the case to go to a jury trial.”

This Politico no longer exists apparently:

Blackwell was named Executive Director of the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC) in 2019.

The Associated Press and CBS reported Former California employee to get $350K to settle sexual harassment settlement; and California to pay $350K to settle sexual harassment claims against State Treasurer Fiona Ma.

“In a ruling last year in Sacramento County Superior Court, Judge Christopher Krueger dismissed Blackwell’s allegations of racial discrimination and wrongful termination but cleared the way for the sexual harassment allegations to go to trial,” CBS reported.

And then poof, the story went away.

Fiona Ma is running for Lieutenant Governor.

Courthouse News reported in 2023 that Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Christopher Krueger denied Ma’s motion to dismiss the sexual harassment claims. He ruled that a jury could reasonably find the incidents constituted sexual harassment, even though Ma argued they were “not sexual” or “random, isolated incidents.” The judge noted evidence (including from Ma herself) supported Blackwell’s version enough to proceed to trial. Other claims (racial discrimination, wrongful termination) were dismissed due to performance-related evidence for the firing.

At the end of August 2024, Politico reported:

“There’s no election yet, but Fiona Ma is already notching a win.

That’s because a former employee who accused the state treasurer of sexual harassment is today set to drop the complaint against her and settle other claims, ending a three-year civil court case that had become a political albatross for Ma as she eyes a 2026 bid for lieutenant governor.”

As a political colleague told me, “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander? The state treasurer has sexual harassment baggage too!” commenting on Swalwell’s alleged harassment, and Fiona Ma’s odd case.

Weeks before voting begins in California’s primary election, Eric Swalwell is forced to address the mounting sexual harassment claims from former staffers. pic.twitter.com/Bs67Lgvbwh

— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) April 8, 2026

Ma’s case was settled, and taxpayers paid the bill.

So, what happened?

On August 29, 2024, Blackwell’s lawyers filed to drop the sexual harassment complaint against Ma personally. The state of California agreed to pay $350,000 to settle the remaining claims against the Treasurer’s Office. The settlement explicitly states no admission of wrongdoing by Ma or the state. Ma’s office described this as full vindication. Ma stated: “From day one, I said this was a frivolous lawsuit… [I am] completely vindicated.” Ma’s case ended without a trial or factual findings by a jury on the harassment claims.