Bob Filner: "'I hope to be in the position one day to be forgiven" |
The mayor of San Diego, California, has said he will attend "behaviour counselling" amid multiple allegations of sexual harassment. Seven women have now accused Bob Filner, 70, of unwelcome advances, some of them physical. The local Democratic committee voted by 34-6 on Thursday for the leader of the nation's eighth-largest city to quit. In a news conference, Mr Filner said his behaviour had been "inexcusable", but did not say he was stepping down. "I have apologised to my staff, I have apologised to the women I have offended," said the divorced 70-year-old on Friday. The former congressman went on: "I am responsible for my conduct and I must take responsibility for my conduct by taking actions so that such conduct does not ever happen again. "So beginning on August fifth I will be entering a behaviour counselling clinic to undergo two weeks of intensive therapy to begin the process of addressing my behaviour." 'Headlocks' Mr Filner's problems began two weeks ago when Donna Frye, a former councilwoman and onetime supporter, called on him to step down, saying she had evidence that he had harassed women. He responded with a video apology, calling his behaviour "inappropriate and wrong", declaring: "I need help." Then on Monday, Mr Filner's former communications director, Irene McCormack Jackson, filed a lawsuit against him and the city. She alleged he had asked her to work without underwear, told her he wanted to see her naked and put her in a "headlock" while making unwelcome advances. On Thursday evening, four prominent San Diegan women went public with their own detailed accusations on a local broadcaster. Veronica Froman, a retired rear admiral known as San Diego's "navy mayor", said Mr Filner once blocked her from leaving a room, ran his finger up her cheek and asked if she had a man in her life. The president of the city's port tenants' association, Sharon Bernie-Cloward, said Mr Filner had groped her on her bottom at an event last year. "I was left there startled and fearful," she was quoted as saying by US media. "In fact, I actually had someone walk me to my car that night." Patti Roscoe, a businesswoman who knew Mr Filner for decades, said he had placed her in a headlock numerous times, trying to kiss her on the lips. "I'd have to squirm to get away," she said. "And just as recently as a few months ago this happened. I turned and he just slobbered down my chin." A vote last week by the San Diego Democratic Party Central Committee for Mr Filner to quit ended in a 24-24 deadlock. But as very public accusers lined up to point the finger at the mayor, the committee took a firmer stance. "It speaks to the extent of the problem that the mayor has to address," said Francine Busby, the county party chairwoman. |
据英国广播公司7月26日报道,美国加州圣迭戈市市长鲍勃•菲尔纳(Bob Filner)日前被多名女性指控性骚扰,他宣布将接受“行为辅导”。 迄今为止,现年70岁的菲尔纳共遭到7名女性指控,圣迭戈市的民主党委员会在25日以34票赞同6票反对通过了要求菲尔纳辞职的决议。 菲尔纳在26日举行的新闻发布会上承认自己的行为是“不可饶恕”的,但并没有表示会辞去市长的职务。“我已经向我的下属道歉,也向那些我曾骚扰过的女性道了歉,”菲尔纳说道,“我会对我的所作所为负责,我要采取行动避免类似情况再次发生,因此我决定从8月5日开始去行为辅导诊所接受为期两周的强化治疗,以纠正自己的行为。” 7月11日,圣迭戈市前女议员唐娜•弗莱(Donna Frye)公开宣布手中握有菲尔纳对女性进行性骚扰的证据,并要求其下台。菲尔纳在道歉视频中承认自己的行为是“不合适并且错误的”,同时还表示自己需要帮助。 第一位站出来的受害人是菲尔纳的前通讯主任艾琳•麦柯马克•杰克逊(Irene McCormack Jackson),她在22日提交了一份指控菲尔纳的诉状。杰克逊在诉状中表示,菲尔纳曾要求她不穿内裤上班,表示想要看她的裸体,此外还有过将她的头夹在腋下等不当行为。紧接着菲尔纳的助手劳拉・芬克和摩根・罗斯也分别于23日、24日公开指责他。 25日晚,又有4名圣迭戈女子公开指控菲尔纳。已退休的海军少将维罗尼卡•弗罗曼(Veronica Froman)称,菲尔纳曾把她堵在房间里,把手指放到她脸上,问她生活里是否有男人。 圣迭戈港口租户协会主席莎伦•伯尼•克洛沃德(Sharon Bernie-Cloward)称,菲尔纳曾在去年的一次活动上摸她的臀部。“我感到很吃惊很恐惧,”她说道。 与菲尔纳相识数十年的女商人帕蒂•罗斯科(Patti Roscoe)也表示,菲尔纳曾多次夹着她的头试图亲吻她。“几个月前还发生过这样的情况,我奋力抵抗才没有让他得逞。” 据悉,菲尔纳是圣迭戈市20年来的首位民主党市长。该市民主党中央委员会上周已经就是否要菲尔纳辞职进行了表决,不幸陷入24票对24票的僵局。此后由于公众一致将矛头对准了菲尔纳,该委员会不得不再次进行投票,最终做出了要求菲尔纳辞去市长一职的决定。 相关阅读 (翻译: Henrish 编辑: Julie) |