Even though San Diego’s Mayor Bob Filner initially apologized
for his inappropriate behavior towards women, he does not appear to really
understand the sexual harassment allegations against him. Born on Sept. 4,
1942, the now 70-year-old mayor might have trouble understanding why his (from
his point of view) “manly” behavior is causing uproar.
The first woman
who came publicly forward with sexual harassment allegations against Mayor Bob
Filner is 57-year-old Irene McCormack Jackson who is a longtime San Diego
Union-Tribune reporter and who left to work for the Port of San Diego before
accepting a job with Filner's office in January of 2013. She filed a lawsuit in
San Diego Superior Court against San Diego’s Mayor Bob Filner and the city and
is being represented by no other than Jackson's high-profile Los Angeles-based
attorney, Gloria Allred.
During her press conference on July 22, 2013, Gloria Allred
gave the following description of Mayor Bob Filner’s behavior – she should work
without her panties on, that he wanted to see her naked, that he could not wait
to consummate their relationship (which there was none other than
professional), and that he couldn’t wait to marry her. He had the right to demand kisses, to drag her
around in a headlock while whispering sexual comments in her ear. “He
apparently thought that he had the right to tell her that he wanted to see her
naked,” said Gloria Allred.
Irene McCormack Jackson also described Mayor Bob Filner’s
behavior during the July 22, 2013 press conference.
“The past six months turned out to be the worst time of my
entire working life. I had to work and do my job in an atmosphere where women
were viewed by Mayor Filner as sexual objects or stupid idiots. I saw him place
his hands where they did not belong on numerous women. I was placed in the
Filner headlock and moved around as a rag doll while he whispered sexual
comments in my ear. .. He thought it was acceptable behavior.”
The second woman
who came forward with sexual harassment allegation against San Diego’s Mayor
Bob Filner is Laura Fink who said that Bob Filner “patted her posterior and
made a crude joke at a crowded fundraising event in 2005, when she was his
deputy campaign manager.” KPBS also provides a link to the Email that she sent to then Congressman Bob Filner.
(Click on picture to enlarge)
The second woman
who came forward with sexual harassment allegation against San Diego’s Mayor
Bob Filner is Laura Fink who said that Bob Filner “patted her posterior and
made a crude joke at a crowded fundraising event in 2005, when she was his
deputy campaign manager.” KPBS also provides a link to the Email that she sent to then Congressman Bob Filner.(Click on picture to enlarge)
The third woman
who came forward on Wednesday, July 24, 2013, with sexual harassment accusations
against San Diego Mayor Bob Filner is Morgan Rose, a psychologist in the San
Diego Unified School District, who says that in January of 2009, Mayor Bob
Filner repeatedly tried to kiss her in a public restaurant.
On Thursday, July 25, 2013, four more women have come forward with sexual harassment allegations
against San Diego’s Mayor Bob Filner:
Patti Roscoe, a
businesswoman, described Mayor Bob Filner’s behavior: “He's put me in what I
guess now is the famous headlock. I felt
fearful. It was an invasion into my space, and he would come in and try to kiss
me on the lips and I'd have to squirm to get away, and just as recently as a
few months ago this happened. And I turned and he just slobbered down my chin
and I was so violated and I was so offended. …
On other occasions, he's gotten close to me and put his hands on
inappropriate places on my body ... and it's just such a terrible invasion.”
San Diego State University Dean Joyce Gattas told KPBS
she also was sexually harassed by Filner. “Where he's held me and held me too
tight, kiss on the cheek which is inappropriate, hand on the knee that lasted
too long. Moreover, I've been in the environment where he has made those sexual
comments to others. … I've seen the
interaction from others when they cringe when he's had those interactions. I've
experienced his sexual innuendoes with me at various events that, again, have
left me in that strange feeling of -- this is inappropriate, this is un-wanted
and this shouldn't be happening."
Retired Adm. Veronica
"Ronne" Froman, the former San Diego Navy Mayor, described an
incident with Mayor Bob Filner that occurred two years ago at Filner's
congressional office. “As we were leaving the office, all the guys left and I
was the last one in the room. Bob
stepped between me and the doorway and he stopped me … and he got very close to
me, and he ran his finger up my cheek like this and he whispered to me, 'Do you
have a man in your life?' I jumped back. I was very, very startled, and I said,
'Yes, I have a man in my life.' And he said 'Who?' And I said, 'Lyndon
Blue.' And he said, 'Oh, of the Blues
Brothers? Maybe we can all get together sometime for lunch and he can support
me for mayor. I was really rattled. I went out in the car, got in with the two
guys I was working with and I told them to never leave me in a room alone with
Bob Filner again.”
San Diego Port Tenants Association President Sharon Cloward described an incident
with Mayor Bob Filner in 2010. “He said I was beautiful and that he wanted to
date me. And this time Bob Filner was going through his re-election process, so
he made it clear that he would like to date me as soon as the re-election
process was over."
All four women said they hoped other women would also come
forward, and they called on San Diego's Mayor Bob Filner to resign.
Related articles:
San
Diego’s Mayor Bob Filner refuses to resign: ‘On August 5, I will be entering a
counseling clinic to undergo two weeks of intensive therapy’
Comic-Con 2013 San Diego's Mayor Bob Filner mock-warning by KOGO (Video)
Comic-Con 2013 San Diego's Mayor Bob Filner mock-warning by KOGO (Video)
