Former aide sues San Diego mayor, charging sexual harassment BY MARTY GRAHAM SAN DIEGO Mon Jul 22, 2013 11:32pm EDT 1 OF 6. Attorney Gloria Allred introduces Irene McCormack Jackson, the mayor's former director of communications and plaintiff in a sexual harassment lawsuit against the City Of San Diego and its mayor Bob Filner, during a press conference in San Diego, California July 22, 2013. CREDIT: REUTERS/SAM HODGSON
San Diego city attorney maneuvered to force Filner from office Jan Goldsmith worked for weeks to remove the first-term Democrat by squeezing him financially and releasing documents showing the anger and dismay of his staff. November 03, 2013 By Tony Perry San Diego Mayor Bob Filner enters council chambers Aug. 23 to announce his (Don Bartletti, Los Angeles) s ) SAN DIEGO In Bob Filner's final days as mayor, the city attorney was prepared to do something never before done here: plead with a judge that the mayor posed a threat to women and should be barred from City Hall. A psychologist retained by City Atty. Jan Goldsmith was set to testify that, in her opinion, Filner fit the characteristics of a sociopath, was "without shame, empathy or compassion," and believed no rules applied to him. One fact seemed telling: Filner had waited months to reimburse the city for $900 in personal expenses on a city credit card. A decision was made to squeeze Filner, giving him the choice to resign or wage an expensive legal fight. "We didn't think he had the willingness or [financial] ability to deal with the legal issue," Goldsmith said. Goldsmith persuaded the City Council to refuse to defend Filner in the Jackson lawsuit and instead force him to hire private attorneys. "It was a bluff," said Goldsmith, noting that California law requires a public employer to represent an employee, even a mayor, accused of on-the-job misdeeds.
A Slap on the Wrist Former Mayor Filner faces the music Former mayor gets 3 months of house arrest, 3 years probation for conduct toward 3 women By Craig Gustafson and Greg Moran3:58 P.M.DEC. 9, 2013Updated5:51 P.M. MAYOR FILNER'S RISE, FALL GLORIA ALLRED ON FILNER'S SENTENCING DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO Bob Filner: Councilman. Congressman. Mayor. Felon. Filner completed a stunning fall from grace Monday when a judge sentenced him to three months of home confinement and three years of probation, closing the criminal probe into the inappropriate sexual behavior toward women that ended his brief stint as San Diego s 35th mayor. His legal woes will continue as he and the city still face a civil lawsuit from a former aide. The sentencing by Superior Court Judge Robert Trentacosta came after Filner pleaded guilty in October to one felony charge of false imprisonment and two misdemeanor charges of battery. The former 10-term congressman will also have to continue mental health treatment, surrender a portion of his pension and be prohibited from seeking or holding public office until he finishes probation. The original plea agreement announced by prosecutors said Filner could never hold public office again. Filner, who earlier had defiantly proclaimed his innocence of sexual harassment allegations and accused a political lynch mob of orchestrating his ouster, appeared rested, contrite and in good spirits at Monday s hearing. He showed none the cantankerous and combative attitude he frequently exhibited during his short run as mayor and throughout the headline-making scandal that rocked San Diego s political world over the summer. Deputy Attorney General Melissa Mandel said Filner violated his oath of office by committing criminal assaults against three women within six months of becoming mayor. The women accused Filner of restraining, kissing and touching them without their consent in separate incidents at public events. Filner demeaned his victims. He humiliated them. He scared them. He embarrassed them. He sexualized and devalued them. And he did all of this with the power and influence of the public office he held, Mandel said. The judge deviated only slightly from the terms of the plea deal that Filner struck with prosecutors so the biggest revelations of the day came from documents submitted by his lawyers, friends and family to help his cause. A memo from defense lawyer Jerry Coughlan said that Filner was on a course of psychiatric counseling and medications when he returned to San Diego after decades in Washington to run for mayor last year. The treatment had been prescribed by congressional doctors to help stabilize his mood and safeguard his mental health. Coughlan said that the sudden disruption in his medications, coupled with long-standing issues of anxiety and the stress of assuming a new, intensely political, executive position substantially contributed to the aggressive, bullying, mercurial conduct that led to Filner s resignation. While the memo provides some details on Filner s mental state, it makes clear he accepts responsibility for his conduct. I want to apologize to my family who have stood by me through this ordeal, to my loyal staff and supporters, to the citizens of San Diego and, most sincerely, to the women who I have hurt and offended, Filner told the court. To all of you I make the same promise that I made to my family, to earn back your trust and my integrity no matter how long it takes and what I have to do.