Congresswoman claims a Filner groping (years ago)

Rep. Diana DeGette, a Colorado congresswoman, told the Denver Post and MSNBC today (November 20) that former San Diego mayor Bob Filner tried to grope her in an elevator. Both were in Congress at the time, she said. She stated they got into an elevator together and Filner tried to push her to the door of the elevator and attempted to kiss her. She pushed him away, she said.

DeGette also stated that when she was a young congresswoman, she attended a diplomatic dinner at which a French diplomat tried to put his hand up her dress.

While he was mayor, female employees charged Filner with sexual harassment. Some got rich settlements. Prosecutors told Filner they would bankrupt him unless he pleaded guilty to harassment. Then, they threatened him with criminal charges unless he confessed, which he did.

He wrote a book after his removal from the mayoralty. In the book, he admitted to being a womanizer. He was having sex outside of marriage, he has admitted. (His marriages ended in divorce.) He confessed in the book that his sexual conquests were really quests for power, not gratification. In the book, he did not address whether he sexually harassed San Diego city employees. He has said he did not do so. He could not be reached for comment.