Lawyer files ethics complaint against Rep. Dan Fernandez for misconduct during Quad Committee hearing

An ethics complaint has been filed against Rep. Dan Fernandez of Santa Rosa's Lone District by Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio on behalf of Cassandra Ong, accusing him of violating the House of Representatives' Code of Conduct.

The complaint alleges that Fernandez deprived Ong of her right to communicate with her legal counsel and misinterpreted Supreme Court decisions during Quad Committee hearings on August 28, 2024.

Topacio argues in his complaint that Fernandez's actions warrant his expulsion from the House for compromising its integrity by preventing Topacio from advising Ong on her legal rights.

During the hearing, Fernandez threatened to cite Topacio in contempt if he continued to communicate with Ong and surrounded her with staff to prevent communication between Ong and her counsel.

Topacio contends that Fernandez's misinterpretation of legal rulings caused harm to his client by stripping her of crucial legal protections during the hearings, thereby affecting the credibility of the House and the Public Order and Safety Committee.