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NYC Mayor Adams sued by Florida woman for alleged sexual assault in 1993. He denies it.
By
Charles Lane
Published Mar 18, 2024
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Slaven Vlasic / Getty Images
By
Charles Lane
Published Mar 18, 2024
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New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been formally accused of demanding oral sex from a colleague in the NYPD’s transit bureau in 1993 and forcing her to touch his penis when she refused to comply, according to a civil complaint filed in state Supreme Court in Manhattan on Monday.
But Adams is again denying the allegations, with his city attorney calling them “outrageous.”
The lawsuit claims Adams, then a transit police officer, offered to assist the accuser, Lorna Beach-Mathura, with getting a promotion in the department after she says she was repeatedly passed over due to discrimination.
“Defendant Adams claimed he would assist Plaintiff with an employment issue, only instead to drive her to a vacant lot and request oral sex from her,” the lawsuit alleges. “When she refused, Defendant Adams forcibly pushed Plaintiff’s hand onto his erect penis, and then, after she removed her hand, masturbated himself to completion and ejaculated on her.”
Notice of the complaint first came in November, when Beach-Mathura, who now lives in Florida, submitted a brief court summons against Adams under the state’s Adult Survivors Act. That law provided a one-year extension of the window for survivors of alleged sexual misconduct to sue in civil court beyond the normal statute of limitations.
At the time, Adams vehemently denied the accusations, saying he did not remember Beach-Mathura. “It absolutely did not happen,” he said. “I don't recall ever meeting this person. And I would never harm anyone in that magnitude.”
An attorney for the mayor, city Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix, denied the new details alleged on Monday.
“While we review the complaint, the mayor fully denies these outrageous allegations and the events described here; we expect full vindication in court,” she wrote in an emailed statement. “Additionally, in 1993, Eric Adams was one of the most prominent public opponents of the racism within the NYPD, which is why the suit’s allegations that he had any sway over promotions of civilian employees is ludicrous.”
The suit also names as defendants the NYPD’s transit bureau, the Guardians Association of the NYPD — a fraternal organization of Black law enforcement officers — and three “unknown entities” described as “any for-profit or not-for-profit entities responsible under the law for acts complained of herein.”
Beach-Mathura, who declined requests for comment through her attorneys, is seeking at least $5 million in damages, plus attorney’s fees, according to the court notice they filed in November. The Adult Survivors Act gives plaintiffs the option of commencing litigation anonymously.
In an emailed statement on Monday, attorney Megan Goddard praised her client for coming forward.
“She knew that filing this lawsuit would cause her significant personal challenges but she did so nevertheless, because she believes sexual abusers must be held to account, no matter who they are,” she said. “Her fearlessness and quest for justice are as inspiring as they are important.”
Calls and emails to the Guardians Association were not immediately returned.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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new york city
public safety
Politics
eric adams
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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