San Diego has finally settled the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Benelia Santos-Hunter, the former executive assistant of Mayor Bob Filner. The city has agreed to pay $667,000 to the former assistant who claimed her boss repeatedly made sexual harassment advances like attempting to kiss and hug her.
In a report by Los Angeles Sun Times, Filner's former assistant, Benelia Santos-Hunter, also claimed that he locked her in a kitchen and even proposed to have sex on top of a conference table. He also tried to touch her breasts.
The settlement was approved unanimously by the City Council a day after it was decided to go on trial. This is the largest payout made to any of the women who have accused Filner of unwanted sexual advances after he filled the post of being a mayor for eight months.
The lawsuit of Santos-Hunter states that the harassment began in February of 2013. Aside from attempting to hug and kiss her, the former mayor reportedly said to her: "You need me as your lover." She claimed the politician continued the harassment for several months even in front of other assistants, and proposed sex to her as he commented on her body.
In May 2013, the kitchen incident allegedly took place. According to the ex-assistant, it was also on the same month when Filner proposed having sex on a conference table and putting her in a headlock, Seattle Times reported.
Santos-Hunter said in a statement that it was difficult to speak up but it was the right thing to do. She also said that she did not complain when the behavior of the former mayor persisted as she needed a job.
When Filner was interviewed about the allegations, he said, "When you look at what, quote, I was charged with, you know, it was, really, nothing illegal and it was just an attempt of the establishment to take back their city, which they did." He also claimed that some of the allegations are just fantasies of the women who filed charges against him, Los Angeles Times reported.
Filner's former communications director was paid $250,000 in the past and her claims about his sexual advances forced the then-mayor to resign back in August 2013. City Attorney Jan Goldsmith said in a statement that San Diego might pay a total of $1 million to all the Filner-related lawsuits. Four have already been settled and two more are to be agreed upon.
Nearly 24 women have publicly reported they have been sexually harassed by the city's first ever Democratic mayor in 20 years.
