San Diego Mayor Bob Filner’s final day has dawned, and he’s expected to pack up and leave his office Friday amid a sea of sexual harassment charges from 18 women, at last count.
He’s only served nine months of his four-year term, The Associated Press reported.
His departure comes just a week after he made a dramatic speech to City Council to proclaim his innocence and decry his victimization by a “lynch mob,” AP reported.
Mr. Filner served 10 terms as a congressman before he was elected mayor, in November of 2012. He took office in December, and six months later, on June 20, 2013, his communications director, Irene McCormack Jackson, confronted him about unwanted sexual advances. Following, Mr. Filner’s deputy chief of staff, Allen Jones, quit.
From there, the steamroll of accusations started. Mr. Filner’s former aide, Donna Frye, called on him to resign, and on July 11, he issued a public mea culpa for the harassment, telling the public he will seek therapeutic help.
Meanwhile, on July 22, Ms. McCormack Jackson filed a suit against Mr. Filner and the city for sexual harassment charges.
In August, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer called on Mr. Filner to resign, saying in letter that the accusations have “shaken me to my core,” AP reported. Also in August, Mr. Filner finished his therapy — but to little political avail. Petitioners continued to gather signatures to oust him from office.
On Aug. 23, touting an agreement with city officials, Mr. Filner announced he will resign, effective Aug. 30.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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