Filner guilty plea: Ex-San Diego mayor banned from public office

SAN DIEGO -- Former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner on Tuesday agreed to give up most of his mayoral pension and never again run for office in exchange for avoiding jail time related to criminal charges that grew out of the sexual harassment allegations that drove him from office.

Under the plea agreement, Filner on Tuesday pleaded guilty to one felony count of false imprisonment and two misdemeanor counts of battery. The charges, filed by the state attorney general's office in San Diego County Superior Court, relate to three alleged victims, identified in court papers as Jane Doe 1, 2 and 3.

The felony count involves allegations of false imprisonment by violence, fraud, menace and deceit.

The count alleges that Filner used "undue" force to hold a woman against her will.

The battery counts involve accusations that he kissed one woman and grabbed another by the buttocks.

In addition to the agreement on running for office and his pension, Filner also agreed to spend three months in home confinement. He will also undergo treatment as “directed by a mental health professional” during his three years of probation.

The felony count could have brought a maximum sentence of three years in prison, each misdemeanor count a maximum of 12 months in jail.

Via: LA Times

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Documents: Former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner gave staff $86K in raises before resigning

SAN DIEGO - Bob Filner gave raises to several staff members totaling $86,000 just before he resigned as mayor of San Diego, according to documents obtained by Team 10.

Filner authorized the raises before leaving office amid a lawsuit and several allegations he sexually harassed city staff and other women in the community.

The largest raise went to former Filner press secretary Lena Lewis. Her salary was $82,500 in July, and it rose to $115,000 by August.

In July, Filner protocol officer Molly Chase earned $50,000. On August 1, her pay was bumped up to $65,000.

Filner binational affairs manager Mario Lopez also had a $15,000 increase. His annual salary went from $70,000 in July, to $85,000 in August.

Chase, Lopez and Lewis continue to work for the city of San Diego under interim mayor Todd Gloria. Gloria adjusted the trio's salaries once he took office.

Chase, now the director of appointments and protocol, is earning $60,000. Lopez remains the director of binational affairs and earns his original salary of $70,000. Lewis now serves as a council liaison, with a current salary of $95,000.

Filner also gave three administrative staff raises -- Adriana Martinez, Kimberly Ricci, and Antoinette Duran. The three saw their pay go from $30,000 each in July to $35,000 in August.

Gloria did not adjust their raises, and according to Gloria's spokesperson, all three staffers continue working as community outreach representatives.

The seventh Filner staffer to receive a raise was former council liaison Francisco Estrada. He salary went from $101,500 in July to $110,000 in August.

Via: ABC 10 San Diego

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Filner, Weiner, and Spitzer Are All Gone, but the "Democrat War on Women" Continues

A couple of months ago, Republicans found themselves tired of defending themselves on abortion/pay equity issues and eager to change the subject. The new subject: The "war on actual women." While Democrats were out calling any supporter of Texas' abortion law "anti-woman," they were insufficiently angry about the members of their party who couldn't take five steps without sexually harrassing someone or buying a prostitute. A sample, from a July NRSC press release:

[A]s Eliot Spitzer runs for Comptroller and Anthony Weiner for Mayor in New York City – [Sen. Kirsten] Gillibrand remains silent. 

Senator Jeanne Shaheen even proudly accepts campaign contributions from Bob Filner. Surely she must have something to say about his abuse? Nope. Silence.  

Alison Lundergan Grimes? One day the unprepared candidate is talking about empowering women, the next day her political team is empowering disgraced politician Anthony Weiner.

Funny thing: All of those jerks are now out of politics, probably for good. Filner resigned in disgrace last month. New York voters retired Spitzer and Weiner. I checked with NRSC spokesman Brad Dayspring to see whether the line would have to be retired.

"You still miss the point," he said. "It's not about Spitzer, Weiner or Filner – it's about the hypocrisy of a political party willing to accept them as they assault/harass/victimize/exploit women while at the same time claiming their political opponents are anti-women." As an example, he pointed me to the story of Lundergan Grimes failing to take a position on a sleazy state representative. Fair enough—you can use this attack in many forms—but this wasn't the story Republicans wanted this fall. They wanted to goad Democrats into rejecting-and-denouncing on the incredibly famous scandalized New York politicos. Seems like a wash for all sides, as there's absolutely no evidence that the attack was working.

Via: Slate

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San Diego Mayor Bob Filner to Resign

San Diego Mayor Bob Filner has agreed to resign as part of a deal reached this week with city officials, NBC 7 News has learned.

Filner, spotted leaving City Hall with packing boxes Wednesday night, will formally vacate the office following a closed session of City Council Friday, according to several sources.

City officials announced just before 7 p.m. Wednesday a proposed solution had been reached in the scandal that has consumed the city of San Diego since it first broke July 10.

In the last six weeks, more than a dozen women have come forward with tales of alleged sexual harassment and unwanted sexual advances.

Filner has admitted to disrespecting and at times intimidating women, saying that he needed help. He announced he would enter a treatment program for an undisclosed disorder or illness.

Under investigation for alleged “pay to play” schemes with developers, Filner disappeared from public view for three weeks and surfaced Monday in time for a mediation session with city officials.

Over three days of negotiations in the downtown San Diego high-rise located just blocks from City Hall, officials reached a deal.

Filner has agreed to a deal with the Tourism Marketing District then refused to adhere to the terms. He also pulled permits with Jack-in-the-Box and meddled in Centerpoint.

So as with any negotiations, until the agreement is approved and signed, it’s still tentative.

Once Filner resigns, San Diego city government will enter a period of interim leadership.

Council President Todd Gloria will take on the role of acting mayor.

Via: CBS San Diego

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