News

Actions

Filner's first accuser on his apology and ‘Me Too' movement

Sexual harassment panel at USD
Posted at 11:55 PM, Feb 13, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-14 10:20:53-05

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - The University of San Diego hosted a sexual harassment panel Tuesday on the "#MeToo" movement and former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner's sexual misconduct in office.

A lobbyist, lawyers and Filner's first accuser, Irene McCormack, made up the panel put together by the San Diego Union-Tribune and USD's School of Law.

"It's been difficult for me to see it because it hurts to see that other women have gone through this," McCormack said of #MeToo. "I know what the trauma is like afterwards, I know what it's like to go out and accuse somebody of this."

Twenty women accused Filner of sexual misconduct in 2013 before he resigned from office.

McCormack believes social media is why the #MeToo movement is catching on now rather than when she first accused Filner.

Meanwhile, Filner apologized about the saga in a rare radio interview at the beginning of 2018, but McCormack said she doesn't want to hear it.

"I don't need his apology," said McCormack. "What he did was wrong, he didn't have remorse for it and I don't care to hear from him again."