Ex-Staffer: SD Mayor Wanted Me to Work Sans Panties

Irene McCormack Jackson files lawsuit against Bob Filner
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 23, 2013 1:20 PM CDT
Ex-Staffer: SD Mayor Wanted Me to Work Sans Skivvies
Gloria Allred and Irene McCormack Jackson speak at a news conference where they revealed details about their accusations of sexual misconduct against San Diego Mayor Bob Filner in San Diego yesterday.   (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

The first woman has come forward to detail the alleged sexual harassment she says she suffered at the hands of San Diego mayor Bob Filner, whom she is suing, NBC San Diego reports. "The past six months turned out to be the worst time of my entire working life," said Irene McCormack Jackson yesterday; she served as Filner's communication director before she resigned over the working conditions. Among her accusations: Filner asked her to work sans underwear; he expressed a desire to see her nude; he said—despite the fact that they only had a professional relationship—that he was excited to consummate their relationship; he put her into one of his famous headlocks; he made an inappropriate comment about handcuffs.

"He thought it was acceptable behavior to regularly make sexual comments that were crude and disgusting," and he treated women like "sexual objects or stupid idiots," she said. She also claimed she saw Filner "place his hands where they did not belong on numerous women," the AP reports. Jackson, who resigned last month, filed a lawsuit against Filner yesterday, according to her attorney—none other than Gloria Allred, Politico reports. Filner responded to the suit with a statement saying he's "saddened" by the accusations, but does "not believe these claims are valid" and knows "justice will prevail." In her lawsuit, Jackson also claims three other female staffers "had to be driven home because of his abusive treatment," and five people ultimately resigned over his behavior. (More Bob Filner stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X