Tony cardenas accused of sexual assault

Congressman Tony Cardenas, whose political career was threatened by the allegation that he drugged and molested a 16-year-old, appears to be in the clear after his accuser agreed Wednesday to drop her lawsuit.

The end of the suit against Cardenas, a Democrat from Panorama City, came 2 1/2 months after plaintiff Angela Villela Chavez’s attorney said she had to withdraw from the case for unspecified ethical reasons.

Attorneys for both sides said the fourth-term U.S.

representative agreed not to seek reimbursement from her for court costs or to sue her for malicious prosecution, but Cardenas did not agree to pay Chavez any money. Superior Court Judge Steven Kleifield dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning Chavez can’t bring it back to court.

“Today all false allegations have been dismissed and these claims can never be filed again,” Cardenas said in a statement.

“There is no place in our society for such untruths.

“In this case, the truth pre