New York City Mayor Eric Adams is embroiled in controversy following a bombshell legal claim accusing him of sexually assaulting a former colleague in 1993. The lawsuit, which seeks at least $5 million in damages, was filed under the Adult Survivors Act (ASA) just before its deadline, as revealed by The New York Post.
The unnamed plaintiff, a former coworker of Adams, has leveled serious charges against the Mayor, the NYPD's transit bureau, and the Guardian Association. The three-page summons lodged late Wednesday alleges sexual assault, battery, employment discrimination based on gender and sex, retaliation, creation of a hostile work environment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
City Hall has firmly denied the allegations, with a spokesperson stating, "The mayor does not know who this person is. If they ever met, he doesn't recall it. But he would never do anything to physically harm another person and vigorously denies any such claim." The specifics of the alleged assault have not been detailed in the filing.
The lawsuit surfaces amidst challenging times for Mayor Adams, who is grappling with declining approval ratings and a federal investigation into his campaign's fundraising and budgetary decisions. Marist College polling director Lee Miringoff commented, "It's an unwelcome headline at a time when he doesn't need it. He doesn't have a reservoir of support to fall back on."
Sonia Ossorio, director of the National Organization of Women in New York City, emphasized the importance of the court's fair hearing in the case. "This case adds to the issue the mayor is facing. We need the mayor to be laser-focused on issues important to New York City," she said.
The ASA, signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul in May last year, suspends the usual time limits for suing over alleged sexual assaults for one year. This legislation has led to a surge of civil lawsuits against prominent individuals, including former President Donald Trump, Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose, and celebrity photographer Terry Richardson.
Mayor Adams, never married but father to a 27-year-old son with ex-girlfriend Chrisena Coleman, is currently in a relationship with Tracy Collins of the NYC Department of Education.
This latest accusation adds to the Mayor's ongoing challenges, including an FBI investigation into his alleged involvement in expedited approvals for a Manhattan skyscraper serving as the Turkish consulate. Amidst these swirling controversies, Adams has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing.
