State Sen. Tony Mendoza takes leave of absence amid sexual harassment allegations

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KABC) -- Sen. Tony Mendoza, a Los Angeles-based Democrat, announced Wednesday a leave of absence from the state Legislature amid sexual harassment allegations.

In a statement he released, he said he would be gone through Jan. 26. When the allegations were made against him late last year, Mendoza was stripped of his committee chairmanships.

He added in his statement that he was "forced into this action without due process, which is counter to the very essence of two significant pillars of our American society...fairness and justice."

Mendoza said he hopes his name will be cleared of the allegations as the Senate rules committee continues to investigate.

"This action today has set a dangerous precedent in that any legislator can be faced with any accusation from anyone and be subjected to a harsh penalty without the benefit of presenting his/her side of the story," he said.

Mendoza tweeted his full statement, which can be read below: