Orange County Democrat Hit With Lewd Conduct Allegations From Former Staffers

An Orange County Democratic candidate is battling explosive accusations from former campaign staffers who claim she subjected aides to bizarre and sexually inappropriate behavior while also improperly spending campaign funds.

Janet Keo Conklin, a La Palma council member and real estate agent running to become Orange County’s next assessor, has denied allegations that she forced campaign staffers to touch her breasts during a workplace interaction.

According to a report from LAist, two former staffers alleged Conklin discussed her breast augmentation surgery during a campaign conversation before telling them she had “no feeling in her nipples” and placing their hands on her chest.

“We took our hands off because we were just in shock,” the former staffers claimed.

Conklin denied wrongdoing and pushed back against the allegations, while campaign consultant Michael Trujillo accused disgruntled former staffers of orchestrating a smear campaign after being fired.

Trujillo specifically singled out former campaign treasurer Cine Ivery, who was previously named in a California Fair Political Practices Commission enforcement decision connected to former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s 2018 campaign finance issues.

“Shortly after being brought on by Janet, I recommended she fire this treasurer who has a troubling history getting it wrong,” Trujillo said.

Former campaign aides also accused Conklin of using campaign funds for personal expenses, including restaurant meals and living arrangements.

Staffers alleged Conklin repeatedly discussed trying to classify personal housing costs as campaign expenses because her residence was being used as campaign headquarters.

Questions were also raised about payments allegedly made from campaign funds to Conklin’s daughter, Natalie Khay, and another associate, Shauna Harris, despite former staffers claiming they never performed campaign work.

Trujillo dismissed much of the controversy as exaggerated and mocked media coverage focusing on a disputed restaurant expense.

“This entire episode … is primarily about a dinner at Sizzler,” he said. “F—ing Sizzler!”

The controversy became severe enough that the Democratic Party of Orange County revoked its endorsement of Conklin earlier this year.

Party chair Florice Hoffman said she became aware of the allegations in February and quickly moved to pull support for the candidate.

According to LAist, Hoffman advised Conklin at the time: “Our advice is you need to get a lawyer, a criminal lawyer.”

Conklin appeared largely unfazed by losing party backing.

“Endorsements come and go,” she said. “If it doesn’t come with money, so what?”

Conklin is currently running against Republican incumbent Claude Parrish in the race overseeing Orange County’s property tax assessment office.