Rep. Rivera asks City Council to withdraw his Letter of Reprimand
Update 03.15.24: As part of its reporting on this story, ABC-7 asked the City to confirm whether Rep. Rivera’s staffer had withdrawn his complaint, and if it had, why the City decided to continue its investigation. Spokeswoman Laura Cruz Acosta responded, “When an employee or former employee files a complaint, it is in the responsibility of the City for the protection of its current employees and the City, that an unbiased investigation is conducted even when the complainant resigns or drops their complaint.”
Editor's Note: A previous version of this story stated that the Letter of Reprimand issued to Rep. Rivera mentioned a harassment complaint against Rivera and that an investigation cleared him of that complaint. But what the Letter of Reprimand actually says is that a legislative aide complained of being subjected to a hostile work environment. The Letter of Reprimand said Rivera did not violate the city's harassment prevention policy after being investigated due to that complaint of a hostile work environment. That investigation led to the accusations involving Rivera's wife.
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A lawyer representing El Paso City Rep. Henry Rivera wants City Council to withdraw a Letter of Reprimand against him.
ABC-7 has received that Letter of Reprimand where Rivera is accused of allowing his wife, Dora Oaxaca, to supervise and direct the day-to-day duties of a city employee, as well as access city resources.
City Council approved presenting a Letter of Reprimand to Rivera two weeks ago.
"I write to request that the reprimand be withdrawn because it is not based on the violation of any policy, rule, or law," Rivera's lawyer stated in a letter responding to City Council.
ABC-7 asked for a copy of the investigative report.
The city asked Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to block the release, claiming attorney-client privilege, potential litigation, and common privacy laws.
