San Diego Mayor Bob Filner has decided that he will not resign, despite the sexual harassment allegations that have arisen. Instead, Filner said in a hastily put together press conference at San Diego City Hall Friday that he will go to therapy.
Filner, who did not take questions, read a statement saying that he will go to a “behavior counseling clinic” starting on Aug. 5 for two weeks, reports USA Today. He vowed to return to the mayor’s office full time on Aug. 19.
“I am responsible for my conduct,” Filner said in the statement. “This intensive counseling will just be the first step ... I must become a better person. My hope is by becoming a better person, I put myself in the position to someday be forgiven.”
He then apologized to the citizens and his staff for his behavior. “ I apologize to the people of San Diego. And, most of all, I apologize to the women I have offended,” he said. “The behavior I have engaged in over many years is wrong. My failure to respect women and the intimidating conduct I engaged in at times is inexcusable. It has undermined what I spent my whole professional life doing: fighting for equality and justice for all people.”
According to Fox News, seven women have come forward so far, accusing Filner, 70, of sexual harassment. One of the women is Irene McCormack Jackson, his former communications director.
Filner is rapidly losing support from his own party. Democratic Party leader Debbie Wasserman Schultz called for Filner’s resignation on Friday, before Filner’s statement.
“I am personally offended by his actions and I firmly believe no employee should face a hostile environment or harassment at their place of employment,” Wasserman Schultz, who was once his colleague in Congress, said in a statement. “There is no place for this type of conduct in the workplace and certainly not in our city halls and public offices. For the good of the City of San Diego, I call on Mayor Filner to resign.”
City Council President Todd Gloria, a Democrat, said that Filner’s decision to go to therapy “prolongs the pain he is inflicting on our city at a time when San Diegans are calling for an end to this civic nightmare,” reports The LA Times.
image: Wikimedia Commons
