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alp227

(32,047 posts) Tue Jul 23, 2013, 03:01 AM Jul 2013

Sex harassment suit filed against Filner, SD

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

The former top spokeswoman for Mayor Bob Filner sued him and the city for sexual harassment Monday, alleging he repeatedly made unwanted sexual advances toward her and put her in a headlock on several occasions so she couldn’t get away.

Irene McCormack Jackson, who served as the mayor’s communications director from January to June, is the first woman to identify herself as one of Filner’s accusers since anonymous allegations of sexual harassment were made earlier this month. She told her story alongside attorney Gloria Allred who specializes in high-profile cases involving powerful men and female accusers.

McCormack Jackson accused the mayor of making several sexually suggestive comments to her and telling her he loved her and wanted to get married. The comments included: “I would do a better job if you kissed me,” “When are you going to get naked?” “Wouldn’t it be great if you took off your panties and worked without them on?” and “When are we going to get married? Wouldn’t it be great if we consummated the marriage?”

McCormack Jackson, 57, also said Filner, 70, would put his arm around her neck to pull her in closer to make those comments and twice tried to kiss her without her permission. She pushed him away on one occasion and asked him to leave her office during the second. She said Filner responded by saying, “You cannot kick me out. I am the mayor. I can go anywhere I want, any time I want.”

Read more: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jul/22/sexual-harassment-lawsuit-filner/all/

If Filner does quit over this scandal then San Diego will have a special election, according to the city charter Article XV, section 265(e)(2).

And if she wins this suit but Filner stays in office, the OutKast song "Ms. Jackson" should be Mayor Filner's new entry music.

15 replies

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Sex harassment suit filed against Filner, SD (Original Post) alp227 Jul 2013 OP

This story is quite strange. bravenak Jul 2013 #1

Ug. This is just awful. SunSeeker Jul 2013 #2

I don't believe a 70 year old man just starts doing this stuff.. nessa Jul 2013 #6

Ding, ding, we have a winner. nt raccoon Jul 2013 #15

Power - they love humiliating women Dash87 Jul 2013 #8

a guy could only ever put me in a "headlock" or paw me once Skittles Jul 2013 #3

What you said Skittles. Jazzgirl Jul 2013 #13

the guy who tried it with me got a stapler smashed into his face Skittles Jul 2013 #14

If true...what a pig maddezmom Jul 2013 #4

If he put her in a headlock . . . caseymoz Jul 2013 #5

Filner needs to go SHRED Jul 2013 #7

I know the guy has some vocal supporters here, but it's time he goes. nt msanthrope Jul 2013 #9

Agree, some of the post I read I support were creepy. maddezmom Jul 2013 #10

Yeah....apparently this "true progressive" has been targeted by the centrists and the right wing. msanthrope Jul 2013 #11

Ex-aide files sexual harassment suit against San Diego Mayor Filner bemildred Jul 2013 #12

bravenak

(34,648 posts)

1. This story is quite strange.

Reply to alp227 (Original post)

Tue Jul 23, 2013, 03:12 AM

Jul 2013

I saw her today speaking out and she did not want to marry him at all. I don't think he will remain in office long. She should run for his office herself when he's booted out.

SunSeeker

(51,646 posts)

2. Ug. This is just awful.

Reply to alp227 (Original post)

Tue Jul 23, 2013, 05:07 AM

Jul 2013

If this is true, and there is every indication that it is, Filner has done a lot of damage...on so many levels. What drives a 70 year old man to do this shit?

nessa

(317 posts)

6. I don't believe a 70 year old man just starts doing this stuff..

Reply to SunSeeker (Reply #2)

Tue Jul 23, 2013, 08:46 AM

Jul 2013

It can't be the first time, he finally just picked on a woman who won't put up with it in silence.

Either that or he has a brain tumor or a mental disorder.

raccoon

(31,118 posts)

15. Ding, ding, we have a winner. nt

Reply to nessa (Reply #6)

Tue Jul 23, 2013, 03:21 PM

Jul 2013

Dash87

(3,220 posts)

8. Power - they love humiliating women

Reply to SunSeeker (Reply #2)

Tue Jul 23, 2013, 09:41 AM

Jul 2013

Skittles

(153,174 posts)

3. a guy could only ever put me in a "headlock" or paw me once

Reply to alp227 (Original post)

Tue Jul 23, 2013, 05:29 AM

Jul 2013

and he'd be fucking SORRY

Jazzgirl

(3,744 posts)

13. What you said Skittles.

Reply to Skittles (Reply #3)

Tue Jul 23, 2013, 03:18 PM

Jul 2013

A guy tried to back me into a wall many years ago. When I walked away he was doubled over from the punch to the gut he got.

Skittles

(153,174 posts)

14. the guy who tried it with me got a stapler smashed into his face

Reply to Jazzgirl (Reply #13)

Tue Jul 23, 2013, 03:20 PM

Jul 2013

guys learn more that way than they do from any harassment complaints

maddezmom

(135,060 posts)

4. If true...what a pig

Reply to alp227 (Original post)

Tue Jul 23, 2013, 05:45 AM

Jul 2013

He needs to resign ASAP. Sounds like another egomaniacal power driven politician that thought he could get away with anything and didn't care about how his actions could cost the city and his party.

caseymoz

(5,763 posts)

5. If he put her in a headlock . . .

Reply to alp227 (Original post)

Tue Jul 23, 2013, 06:05 AM

Jul 2013

. . . that goes beyond harassment and into sexual assault territory.

SHRED

(28,136 posts)

7. Filner needs to go

Reply to alp227 (Original post)

Tue Jul 23, 2013, 09:34 AM

Jul 2013

He has already "apologized" so he has basically admitted his behavior.

I feel bad for the women who endured this and secondarily I feel bad for San Diego because Filner is a good champion for the working class.

msanthrope

(37,549 posts)

9. I know the guy has some vocal supporters here, but it's time he goes. nt

Reply to alp227 (Original post)

Tue Jul 23, 2013, 10:56 AM

Jul 2013

maddezmom

(135,060 posts)

10. Agree, some of the post I read I support were creepy.

Reply to msanthrope (Reply #9)

Tue Jul 23, 2013, 11:06 AM

Jul 2013

Treating the charges as a joke or some sort of conspiracy from the neolibs and RW.

msanthrope

(37,549 posts)

11. Yeah....apparently this "true progressive" has been targeted by the centrists and the right wing.

Reply to maddezmom (Reply #10)

Tue Jul 23, 2013, 11:17 AM

Jul 2013

Sounds like he's just plain ol grab ass.

bemildred

(90,061 posts)

12. Ex-aide files sexual harassment suit against San Diego Mayor Filner

Reply to alp227 (Original post)

Tue Jul 23, 2013, 11:59 AM

Jul 2013

SAN DIEGO — Irene McCormack Jackson called it "one of the proudest days of my life" when she went to work for Mayor Bob Filner as his director of communications late last year, even if it meant taking a $50,000 pay cut.

She said she believed his campaign promise to treat employees with respect and was thrilled to be part of "a progressive administration dedicated to improving the lives" of San Diego residents.

But soon her job became a nightmare, Jackson said, as she was subjected to the "Filner headlock" and repeated comments by the 70-year-old Democrat that he wanted to kiss her, have sex with her, even marry her. On one occasion, she said, he suggested she should work without her panties on.

"His behavior made me feel ashamed, frightened and violated," Jackson said at a news conference Monday to announce a sexual harassment lawsuit against the city and Filner, filed on her behalf by Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-filner-20130723,0,3509977.story

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