A California state assemblywoman who garnered national attention as campaigner for women's rights in support of the #MeToo movement has been accused of sexual misconduct.
Democrat Cristina Garcia is accused of groping former legislative staff member Daniel Fierro after a softball game in 2014, which she has denied.
He reported the claim in January and it is now under formal investigation.
Ms Garcia was among nearly 150 women to sign an open letter in October calling out a pervasive culture of sexual harassment in Washington, and she was featured in a Time magazine feature of #MeToo pioneers last year.
In a statement, the Los Angeles lawmaker said: "Upon reflection of the details alleged, I am certain I did not engage in the behaviour I am accused of.
"However, as I've said before, any claims about sexual harassment must be taken seriously, and I believe elected officials should be held to a higher standard of accountability."
Mr Fierro has accused Ms Garcia of stroking his back, grabbing his buttocks and trying to grab his crotch after the legislative sports game.
He said he first reported the incident to his former boss, Democratic Assemblyman Ian Calderon, in January after seeing Ms Garcia's outspokenness in the #MeToo movement.
"If the person leading the charge on it isn't credible it just ends up hurting the credibility of these very real stories," Mr Fierro told the Associated Press.
The claim comes after Ms Garcia told the New York Times she had been a target of groping and inappropriate remarks.
She later featured in Time magazine's "silence breakers" issue.
Around two dozen sexual harassment allegations were made against Assembly lawmakers, staff and lobbyists in 2017 - the most within a single year since 2006 - and at least eight allegations are pending, according to documents released last week.
