San Diego’s City Attorney said his staff is preparing to question San Diego Mayor Bob Filner under oath in the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the mayor’s former communications director.
Filner, a first-term mayor and former Congressman, will begin two weeks of intensive behavioral therapy treatment Monday.
He's accused by his former employee, Irene McCormack Jackson of sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed by prominent attorney Gloria Allred.
McCormack Jackson was the first of nine women to step forward and accuse Filner of inappropriate comments and unwanted sexual advances.
She claims the mayor often asked her to have sex with him, would hold her in what's been dubbed the "Filner headlock" and once told her she would do a better job if she worked without panties.
On July 26 Filner acknowledgement that his "failure to respect women, and the intimidating contact, is inexcusable."
In the statement at City Hall, he announced he would enter a behavioral counseling clinic but did not divulge what specific behavior or condition he suffers from.
"I must become a better person ... I must demonstrate that my behavior has changed," Filner said.
Neither Filner nor his office has released details about his therapy or its location. Filner is picking up the tab for the treatment.
The scandal took center stage at Politifest, an event organized by NBC 7 media partner voiceofsandiego.
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During a discussion about the Filner scandal, City Attorney Jan Goldsmith said he and his staff will cross-examine the mayor as well as the other witnesses and get to the heart of the lawsuit filed by McCormack Jackson. The Associated Press is reporting the deposition will take place Friday.
Goldsmith said no matter what happens Filner will be given “an out.”
“We will give Bob Filner an out if he does the right thing,” the City Attorney said Saturday. “He’s got a lot of legal problems and they are mounting.”
The mayor has refused to grant NBC 7 an interview despite repeated requests.
