Editing Loretta Sanchez (section)

===Congressional Hispanic Caucus===
[[File:Representative Loretta Sanchez at a press conference.jpg|thumb|Sanchez speaking at a Congressional Hispanic Caucus press conference outside the Capitol in 1997]]
In February 2006, Sanchez withdrew from the [[Congressional Hispanic Caucus]]'s [[political action committee]], along with five other members, because the caucus chairman, [[Joe Baca]], authorized political contributions to members of his family who were running for state and local offices in California.<ref name="politico1">[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0107/2572.html "Sanchez Accuses Democrat of Calling Her a 'Whore', Resigns from Hispanic Group"] ''[[Politico]]''. February 2, 2007; retrieved February 7, 2007.</ref>

Sanchez and other CHC members also claim that Baca was improperly elected chairman of the caucus in November 2006 because the vote failed to use secret ballots, as required in the group's bylaws.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2583.html "Two More Reps. Complain About Treatment of Women in Hispanic Caucus"] ''[[Politico]]''. February 2, 2007; retrieved February 7, 2007.</ref> On January 31, 2007, Sanchez quit the CHC because she claimed that Baca repeatedly treated the group's female members with disrespect. Other female lawmakers have made the same complaint about Baca.<ref>[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/politicalmuscle/2007/02/whore_comment_f.html "'Whore' Comment Fractures California Dems"] ''Los Angeles Times'' February 1, 2007; retrieved February 7, 2007</ref> In the election for caucus chairman, only one female member of the 23-member caucus voted to support Baca's candidacy.<ref>[http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/111606/chc.html "CHC nears split as female members refuse to support chairman"]{{dead link|date=April 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} ''The Hill''. November 18, 2006; retrieved February 7, 2007</ref>

According to Sanchez, as well as [[Linda Sánchez]] (her sister), and [[Hilda Solis]], Baca called Loretta Sanchez "a whore" while speaking to other lawmakers.<ref name="politico1"/><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/01/AR2007020101416.html "Hispanic Caucus Members Toil Over Insult"], ''[[The Washington Post]]''. February 1, 2007; retrieved February 7, 2007</ref> Baca denied the charge. Politico reported that Sanchez claimed California Assembly Speaker [[Fabian Núñez]] heard the comment from Baca and repeated it to Sanchez, yet Núñez claimed not to recall any such comment.<ref>[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/politicalmuscle/2007/02/nunez_i_dont_re.html "Nunez: I Don't Recall Whore Comment"] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' February 1, 2007; retrieved February 7, 2007.</ref> Sanchez, however, claimed after the article was published that she had never mentioned Núñez to Politico.<ref>[http://www.townhall.com/News/NewsArticle.aspx?contentGUID=a6183f9f-1ad7-42aa-a191-e9cb394b0ed6 "Hispanic Caucus Members Toil Over Insult"], Townhall.com. February 1, 2007; retrieved February 7, 2006.</ref>