New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams was accused in a lawsuit Monday of sexually assaulting a lady in 1993 and demanding a sexual favor in alternate for his assist advancing her profession within the police division.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Manhattan, provided the primary public particulars of a sexual assault declare introduced in opposition to the mayor in November.
Adams, a Democrat, has vehemently denied the allegations and mentioned he doesn’t keep in mind ever assembly the girl. A sexual assault “completely didn’t occur,” the mayor instructed reporters final fall.
Based on the swimsuit, the girl was searching for a promotion within the metropolis’s Transit Police Division when she sought assist from Adams, then a police officer and high-ranking member of the Guardians Affiliation, a fraternal group that advocates for Black members of legislation enforcement.
The lawsuit says that he provided to drive her house from work after which drove to a vacant lot, the place he provided to assist her, however mentioned he “additionally wanted some assist.” She mentioned that whereas whereas sitting within the parked automobile, Adams demanded oral intercourse.
After she refused, she mentioned he uncovered himself and masturbated, in response to the lawsuit. Adams then mentioned he needed to get again to work, and dropped her at a Manhattan subway station, in response to the swimsuit.
“Adams preyed on her perceived vulnerability, demanding a quid professional quo sexual favor,” the swimsuit states, “revealing himself to not be the ‘Guardian’ he presupposed to be, however a predator.”
A spokesperson for Adams supplied a press release attributed to the town’s company counsel, Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix, which described the allegations as “ludicrous.”
“Whereas we evaluate the grievance, the mayor absolutely denies these outrageous allegations and the occasions described right here,” the assertion learn. “We anticipate full vindication in courtroom.”
The case was introduced beneath the Grownup Survivors Act, a New York legislation that prolonged the time restrict to convey sexual assault lawsuits. The lady first entered her declare this previous November, simply forward of the legislation’s expiration, however didn’t present any particulars concerning the alleged assault on the time.
“I don’t recall ever assembly this individual and I might by no means hurt anybody in that magnitude,” Adams mentioned final fall. “It didn’t occur, and that isn’t who I’m and that isn’t who I’ve ever been in my skilled life and, you already know, it’s simply one thing that by no means befell.”
The lady didn’t file a proper report on the time, however instructed “quite a few individuals” over time, together with present and former NYPD officers, mates, and her daughters, in response to the lawsuit.
A spokesperson for the NYPD, which additionally was named within the lawsuit, didn’t reply to an emailed request for remark.
The Related Press doesn’t sometimes establish alleged victims of sexual assault in tales except they consent to being named. Her lawyer, Megan Goddard, requested that the AP not publish her identify.
Goddard mentioned her consumer expects to face vital private challenges because of the lawsuit, however “she believes sexual abusers should be held to account, regardless of who they’re.”
The case provides to rising authorized bother for Adams, who’s at the moment dealing with a federal marketing campaign fundraising investigation that prompted FBI brokers to seize his telephones and raid the house of his high fundraiser in November.
Earlier this month, FBI brokers raided two properties owned by one other Adams fundraiser, who additionally served as certainly one of his high advisors.