WASHINGTON – A second congresswoman said Thursday she is quitting the Congressional Hispanic Caucus over opposition to its male leadership.
The announcement came from Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., whose sister, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., quit the caucus in January and accused the group's leader of calling her a "whore."
The chairman, Rep. Joe Baca, also a Democrat from Southern California, has denied saying that. But other women also have complained about his leadership. When Baca was elected chairman in November, he was supported by only one of the six women in the caucus.
Since January, the 21-member, all-Democratic group has been meeting to try to resolve the dispute but has not announced any changes. Baca survived a confidence vote in March.
Linda Sanchez said in a statement she was suspending her membership in the caucus "because I believe that the current leadership has not made needed structural reforms to ensure that the caucus is more equitable and inclusive of all its members."
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