Report: Bob Filner To Resign As San Diego Mayor
With sexual harassment charges continuing to mount, NBC’s San Diego affiliate is reporting that Mayor Bob Filner will resign from office:
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.
Given the mounting charges against Filner, it didn’t seem at all likely that he was going to last long in office. The only question was whether his removal would be voluntary or not. Assuming that this deal goes forward, it will at least save San Diego residents from the further embarrassment of having yet more uncomfortable stories about their Mayor revealed nearly every day.
H/T: Jeff Quinton
How do you negotiate a resignation? This man is being accused of crimes. Isn’t it blackmail to threaten to pursue criminal charges unless a person quits his job? If not blackmail, isn’t it just wrong?
He just wants to spend more time with his family.
@John Peabody: and Pursue Other Interests (TM)
Weeks ago I typed that it was only a matter of when this scumbag goes…not if.
I particularly liked that he groped a granny. Old folks need lovin’ too, right?
BTW: my neighbor, alone, has collected 625 signatures within my little neighborhood over the past three days for recall. Not much effort required, people are not happy.
@C. Clavin:
Yes, we do, Clavin.
Whippersnapper.
That’s good news. He only made it worse for Democrats. Still a double standard when it comes to politicians who fall from grace. Republicans are forgiven by God and all’s well with the world.
@Caj:
Not sure that applies here, as “affair” type sex scandals should be treated much differently than sexual harassment.
@David M: Right. “Consent,” as always, is key. While you may consider an affair to be sleazy, at least the participants are consenting. Sexual harassment is, by definition, non-consensual.
Yes, Filner must resign, and resign quickly. That way we can put this whole mess behind us, and not have to face such awkward questions as just how many prominent Democrats knew about Filthy Filner’s groping ways, and how many of them covered for him For The Good Of The Party, the actual victims be damned…
Filner’s predelictions were common knowledge among California Democrats, but they put electoral victory ahead of protecting the women he was victimizing. And the sooner Filner resigns, the sooner everyone can pretend that it never happened, nothing to see here, move along…
Good riddance!
Jenos can fantasize anything that isn’t a scandal into a scandal…a waste is a terrible thing to mind.
BENGHAZiiiii!!!!
@Pinky: the same way jesse jacksons son negotiated his- he get’s his “disability” until he retires, $8,700/month! he can apply for a partial pension then, $45k/yr.
just another thing wrong with this country, filner was a congressman too so he get’s paid for that anyway.