A great-grandmother and part-time San Diego City Hall employee pleaded with Mayor Bob Filner to resign Thursday afternoon, after coming forward as the 16th woman to claim sexual harassment against the Democrat.
Peggy Shannon, 67, said she and her co-workers would normally laugh about the mayor’s bizarre behavior, until one day he grabbed and kissed her, a local ABC affiliate reported.
“I knew he was engaged and I felt very shocked,” she said at a news conference. “On the day that Mayor Filner grabbed me and kissed me, I went home and cried.”
Attorney Gloria Allred, who is representing Ms. Shannon, said Mr. Filner approached the litigant at one point and said, “Do you think I could go eight hours straight?”
“I went home and cried again,” she said, adding that this time she told her supervisor.
“I want to do the right thing for San Diego — Mayor Filner should resign immediately,” Ms. Shannon said. “I want to protect working women.”
SEE ALSO: No Hooters for Bob Filner; 4 San Diego restaurants ban mayor using Glenn Beck signs
Ms. Allred said there is an open investigation with the city’s Equal Employment Investigations Office, ABC 10 reported.
Speaking to the media through tears, the great-grandmother said she will go back to work on Friday, even though she’s scared of the repercussions.
“Your days of fun and games and the sexual harassment of women are over,” Ms. Allred said about Mr. Filner. “It is time for you to go.”
Earlier Thursday, attorney Kathryn Vaughn became the 15th woman to come forward with accusations against the mayor, the station reported.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.