Bob Filner in talks to settle sexual harassment suit

As a recall campaign against the mayor kicks off, Filner entered mediation with his former communications director

Published August 20, 2013 1:30PM (EDT)

Bob Filner returned to work as San Diego mayor in the midst of a sexual harassment lawsuit and a recall campaign, but is reportedly in mediation to settle the suit.

The Associated Press reports:

Attorney Gloria Allred announced Monday evening that she and her client, Irene McCormack Jackson, spent the day in mediation at a downtown office building, where Filner was spotted by a TV crew entering earlier in the day.

Allred wouldn’t say whether Filner’s resignation was discussed nor whether the mayor was present. She said the mediator, former federal judge J. Lawrence Irving, asked that no one make comments while talks continued.

According to 10News in San Diego, "sources said [the mediation was] designed to include a review of a potential resignation by Filner."

More then a dozen women have accused Filner of sexual harassment, though the mayor has so far refused to resign and instead took a two-week break from work to attend therapy.

In the meantime, Filner opponents are gathering signatures to force a recall campaign, and have until Sept. 26 to collect 102,000 signatures.


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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Bob Filner California Recall San Diego Sexual Harassment