Cox "concerned" about assault, trafficking claims against ex-Farm Bureau president

What they're saying: "I sincerely hope that we treat everyone with the dignity and respect that they deserve and that includes especially … our migrant workers who come here and work here and are so important in our agriculture industry," Cox told reporters on Thursday at his monthly news conference.

• "We'll be continuing those investigations, and if there is criminal wrongdoing, we'll make sure that the people responsible are held accountable."

Catch up quick: The alleged altercation, which was caught on video, occurred after several employees confronted Gibson over not receiving their last four paychecks, public records show.

• "I deeply regret the incident and apologize for allowing an argument to escalate to an altercation on my farm," the sixth-generation dairy farmer said in a statement last week.

• The bureau announced Gibson's resignation on Tuesday.

The big picture: Agricultural workers in the U.S. are frequently subjected to wage theft, abuse and poor working conditions by their employers and often fear retaliation.

• "This situation is disturbing and unfortunately not that uncommon," United Farm Workers president Teresa Romero told the Los Angeles Times.
• "The courage of these workers is remarkable. They clearly are facing retaliation including physical violence, but they're still working to hold this man accountable."