New York City mayor Eric Adams has been accused of sexually assaulting a female coworker 30 years ago, according to reports from US media on Thursday. This accusation comes as the state of New York experiences a surge in similar lawsuits filed before the statute of limitations deadline.
Adams, a Democrat, vehemently denies the claim, with his office stating that he does not even know the complainant and would never cause harm to anyone. The civil suit, which was first reported by The Messenger news site, alleges that the assault took place in New York City in 1993 while both parties were employed by the City of New York.
The complainant, whose identity remains undisclosed, is seeking a trial and at least $5 million in damages, as stated in The Messenger report. A spokesperson from City Hall released a statement asserting that the mayor does not recognize the person making the accusation and that if they did meet, he does not recollect it. The spokesperson further emphasized that Adams would never engage in physical harm towards another individual and firmly denies any such allegations.
The lawsuit was submitted under the New York Adult Survivors Act, a law enacted last year that established a one-year window for filing sexual assault claims that were otherwise time-barred. This window is set to expire on Friday.
These recent lawsuits follow a rape complaint filed last week against rapper Sean Combs by R&B singer Cassie, also known as Casandra Ventura. However, the parties involved announced the resolution of the case a day after filing, without disclosing the settlement terms. Former US president Donald Trump was also sued under this law by former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, resulting in a $2 million jury award in May.
In addition to the sexual assault allegations, Adams, a former police officer who assumed office as New York’s second Black mayor in January 2022, is also facing a corruption investigation concerning his campaign financing. Federal investigators are currently examining whether Adams’ 2021 campaign collaborated with the Turkish government and other entities.
(Note: This news article has been sourced from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by NDTV staff, except for the headline.)
