Accuser’s new suit in battle with Stringer
The campaign worker whose allegations of sexual abuse torpedoed politician Scott Stringer’s 2021 mayoral bid filed a new lawsuit seeking unspecified damages for his unwanted attention.
The eight-page Manhattan Supreme Court filing by Jean Kim was the latest legal round in the escalating dispute dating to Stringer’s failed City Hall bid, when her charges preceded his fifth-place finish in the race for the Democratic nomination.
“Kim had no romantic interest in Stringer, never dated Stringer, and did not engage in a romantic or sexual relationship with Stringer at any time,” court papers said. “... Stringer abused and took advantage of the power differential between him and Kim.”
The court document filed March 5 seeks damages for pain, suffering, stress, humiliation, mental anguish and damage to reputation on behalf of Kim. She had filed a formal complaint with the state attorney general’s office back in 2021.
Stringer (photo), in his own lawsuit this past December, charged Kim was lying when she claimed the politician kissed and groped her without consent more than two decades ago while working on his 2001 campaign for public advocate.
Her “defamatory statements” caused Stringer “emotional pain and suffering” and smeared his “reputation, honor and dignity,” he claimed in his filing in the same court.
He insisted the two were involved in an off-and-on consensual relationship and remained friends for years until Stringer couldn’t find her a position during his 2013 run for state comptroller.
Kim said she signed on with the 2001 campaign in an unpaid role at Stringer’s invitation, accompanying the candidate to campaign events and working in other roles. She alleged Stringer improperly touched her on three occasions when the two shared a cab.
And she charged Stringer kissed her before sliding his hand inside the back of her pants in a city bar.
“These allegations are baseless lies, which is why we filed a defamation suit three months ago,” said Milt Williams, an attorney representing Stringer.
A former Manhattan bartender also came forward in 2021 with charges of sexual misconduct in 1992, alleging she was groped and forcibly kissed by Stringer.