A senior member of the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) -- an appointee of Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom -- is facing allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation.

Kendra Bowyer, a former employee tasked with overseeing state disaster relief efforts, has initiated a lawsuit against Deputy Director Ryan Buras.

Filed in the Sacramento County Superior Court on Tuesday, the lawsuit details Buras' alleged sexual harassment of Bowyer that allegedly began in 2020 and continued for about a year, as Fox News reported.

History of Allegations

This isn't the first time Buras has been accused of such conduct. The lawsuit reveals that four other women had previously brought similar accusations against him in 2019, which the agency allegedly failed to address effectively.

Tanya Gomerman, Bowyer's attorney, expressed her intent to hold the government accountable for what she describes as prolonged negligence.

The lawsuit demands compensation for claims including sexual harassment, retaliation, and creating a hostile work environment. Buras so far has not publicly responded to these allegations.

Official Response and Buras's Background

Brian Ferguson, a spokesperson for Cal OES, refrained from commenting on this ongoing legal matter but emphasized the agency's commitment to staff safety and public well-being.

He firmly stated that sexual harassment is against the organization's values and is unacceptable in any form at Cal OES.

Buras, who joined Cal OES in 2019, has a background in disaster management, having worked at the Federal Emergency Management Agency for over a decade.

Details of the Accusations

The lawsuit outlines various incidents of alleged misconduct by Buras.

These range from inappropriate comments on Bowyer's attire to attempts at isolating her in hotel rooms and physical advances.

One particular allegation involves Buras entering Bowyer's bed uninvited during an overnight stay.

Bowyer claims she repeatedly rejected Buras's advances, which led to professional retaliation, limiting her access to necessary resources for her job.

The Impact on Bowyer

As a result of this alleged harassment and retaliation, Bowyer reports suffering from stress, anxiety, and depression, which eventually led to her being deemed "totally disabled" by a doctor in 2021.

She recalls a pivotal moment when she confronted Buras about his behavior, only to face further professional fallout.

Following a medical evaluation related to her leave, Cal OES conducted an investigation, concluding that Buras had not acted inappropriately.

However, Bowyer decided to take legal action after learning of similar scenarios experienced by a colleague.