The Politico reported yesterday that Dem. Rep. Loretta Sanchez had quit the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, accusing the chairman, Rep. Joe Baca, of telling people she’s a “whore.”

Today, the website reports that two more female caucus members are complaining:

A day after Rep. Loretta Sanchez resigned from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus charging its chairman had called her a “whore,’’ a pair of Democratic congresswomen from California spoke out in support of Sanchez’s sweeping complaints that chairman Joe Baca did not respect the women in the caucus.

In an increasingly bitter spat dividing the 21-member caucus, Sanchez also had charged that her follow California Democrat, Baca, had treated the women in the group “like shit.”

On Thursday, the two other California congresswomen bolstered Sanchez’s remarks.

Rep. Hilda L. Solis said she shared “Sanchez’s sentiment about the lack of respect afforded to women members of the Hispanic Caucus.’’ And Loretta Sanchez’s sister, Rep. Linda Sanchez, said she supported her sibling’s decision to resign in protest of Baca’s alleged remark, which he has “categorically’’ denied.

On Thursday, Baca repeated his denial to Fox News, saying there was no rift within the caucus.

While the treatment of women is getting the most media attention, the caucus seems to be falling apart over accusations of nepotism and unethical behavior. Via OC Register:

Sanchez and several other caucus members dropped out of the group’s political action committee last year because, they said, Baca steered contributions to family members – including his sons – who were running for state and local offices. At the time, Baca said that he believed it was important to begin grooming Latinos for political office up and down the line.

Via LA Times: “Some female caucus members also complained earlier this year that Baca’s election as chairman was not conducted by secret ballot as required.”

Just another day in the life of “the most honest, ethical, and open Congress in history.”

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