Harboring a secret? Kobayashi and Sato lead Nov 13, 2016 rally outside Trump Hotel, Waikiki.
Staffer for Sen Stanley Chang Accused of Sex Assault
by Andrew Walden
Asami Kobayashi, co-founder of Young Progressives Demanding Action (YPDA), has a story to tell.
In an April 4, 2018, report filed with the Honolulu Police Department, Kobayashi accuses her fellow activist, Cameron Sato, of sex assault. Sato Co-Chairs YPDA.
Interviewed by Hawai’i Free Press, Kobayashi says:
“(Cameron Sato)…sexually assaulted me a little under two years ago in Kauai while working for Gary Hooser’s (2016) campaign (for Kauai Council). While I was sleeping, he was grabbing/fondling/patting my breasts. I did file a police report several months ago just to document it in case he ever does something to someone else again.
“Someone called Senator Chang’s office and his office manager reported it to the Senate Clerk. Then, she called me in to discuss it a few weeks before the (2018) legislative session ended.”
The Senate Clerk did not respond to a request for comment.
Sato is listed as Senator Stanley Chang’s ‘Community Liaison.’ Neither Sato nor Chang responded to a request for comment.
Kobayashi was employed as session staff for Sen Laura Thielen during the 2018 session. Sen Thielen, a leader of the Women's Legislative Caucus did respond to Hawai’i Free Press with the following comments:
“Sexual harassment or any other form of harassment should not be tolerated in the workplace. Managers have an ethical, moral and legal obligation to investigate any claim and to take corrective action as appropriate….
“I cannot comment on the facts of any case because I can’t reveal confidential information. However I can say as a manager I will always take action to ensure my employees are safe and feel comfortable in the workplace. I appreciate that our Senate Clerk shares these same values.”
Says Kobayashi: “…It upsets me that someone like (Sato) who’s supposedly a leader of the progressive movement in Hawaii did that to me. Some people know about this, yet they’re still supporting him and ignoring the fact that he’s a huge hypocrite. You can’t be marching in the women’s march, preaching that you’re fighting for justice and equality after literally sexually assaulting women.”
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