Brennan asked to testify on Dec. 4

Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, both co-chairs of the Select Committee investigating the hiring of Al Alvarez, said they have asked Katie Brennan, who accused Alvarez of sexual assault, to testify at the committee’s first hearing on Dec. 4.

“This is a special committee with weighty responsibilities that we take very seriously and I fully intend to have this committee do its work in a serious way,” Weinberg said. “We have an oversight responsibility to review the handling of certain allegations of sexual assault as well as the policies and procedures for screening employees in the public sector. We will treat the issue and the people involved with respect. We will conduct the work of the committee in a dignified manner and we will be deliberative in our work.”

Brennan, who is chief of staff at the state’s housing agency, has previously indicated she would be willing to testify.

The committee has subpoena power and could direct uncooperative witnesses to appear, but it’s unlikely that power will need to be used in Brennan’s case, and it’s not clear whether the committee would choose to use that power on Brennan.

“It is the mission of our committee to examine all aspects of the screening of prospective employees in state government and continued employment in the public sector of persons with questionable backgrounds, or pending allegations, including allegations or claims of sexual offenses,” Pintor Marin said. “After public hearings where we will take testimony, our joint committee will make recommendations to create improvements in screening and hiring practices.”