Harassment claim is latest blow to San Diego mayor

SAN DIEGO (AP):

Irene McCormack Jackson said she endured months of harassment from Mayor Bob Filner while serving as his communications director, and the turning point came at a staff meeting in June when another top aide confronted the mayor over his behaviour and quit.

"You are running a terrible office. You are treating women in a horrible manner. What you are doing may even be illegal," Allen Jones, then Filner's deputy chief of staff and a longtime confidante, is quoted saying in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by McCormack.

McCormack chimed in, "I agree with Allen. You are horrible." When the mayor challenged her for an example, she said she replied, "How about when you said that I should take my panties off and work without them."

Call for resignation

The episode is described in the lawsuit McCormack filed Monday against Filner, dealing another blow to San Diego's first Democratic leader in 20 years. His own party appears split on his leadership, though many Democrats have joined Republicans in calling for the former 10-term congressman to resign less than eight months into a four-year term.

McCormack is the first person to publicly identify herself as a target of Filner's advances, suing nearly two weeks after some of the mayor's prominent former supporters said he sexually harassed women and demanded he resign.

Filner rejected McCormack's claims in a brief statement that once again signalled he had no plans to step down. He didn't address any specific allegations.

"I do not believe these claims are valid. That is why due process is so important. I intend to defend myself vigorously and I know that justice will prevail," he said.