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A top lawyer for the state of California has resigned and is claiming that Governor Gavin Newsom was meddling in a sexual misconduct lawsuit centered around gaming company Activation Blizzard.
Blizzard has been in the public eye in recent months following allegations stemming from a lawsuit from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. The lawsuit is alleging the company has a "frat boy" culture and is rampant with sexual harassment and discrimination against women. Chief Counsel for the lawsuit Janette Wipper was abruptly fired, and in protest, assistant council Melanie Proctor, said in an email to staff that she was resigning in protest. Politico is also reporting that a director at Blizzard and CEO of the Wasserman Media Group, Casey Wasserman, previously donated $100,000 to the "Stop the Republican Recall of Governor Newsom" campaign, as shown in the campaign finance records. A spokesperson from Newsom's office is denying the claims and says they are "categorically false". Newsom’s communications director, Erin Mellon, told publication Polygon in an emailed statement the “claims of interference by our office are categorically false.”
Mellon continued: “The Newsom administration supports the effective work DFEH has done under Director Kevin Kish to enforce civil rights laws and protect workers, and will continue to support DFEH in their efforts to fight all forms of discrimination and protect Californians.” Blizzard has been the center of multiple workplace culture lawsuits.