July 29, 2007
Posted: 09:25 AM ET

NEW YORK (AP) — Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks his mind and that is a big part of his cachet in anything-goes New York.

But new details from a sexual harassment lawsuit he settled in 2000 and other racy comments over the years show how his blunt style could prove a liability if he runs for president as an independent.

Before his election as mayor in 2001, Bloomberg was the target of a sexual harassment suit by a female executive who accused him of making repeated raunchy sexual comments while he was chief executive of his financial company, Bloomberg LP.

Bloomberg denied the accusations. Both sides were barred from commenting because of confidentiality agreements. Stu Loeser, the mayor's spokesman, said Friday he had no comment for this story.

The suit was a minor annoyance for Bloomberg during the mayoral race in 2001 and was not an issue in his 2005 re-election.

But the suit and other potential embarrassments resulting from Bloomberg's tendency to speak his mind are largely unknown to the rest of the country and are certain to be re-examined if the billionaire media mogul undertakes a third-party, self-financed
presidential campaign for 2008.

Bloomberg has denied having any plans to seek the presidency. Yet he recently left the Republican Party to become an independent and has increased his out-of-state travel.

The harassment suit was filed in 1997 by former Bloomberg LP sales executive Sekiko Sakai Garrison. Bloomberg adamantly denied the allegations and settled the case in 2000 for an undisclosed amount without admitting any wrongdoing.

Filed under: Uncategorized


Middletown, NJ   July 29th, 2007 10:01 am ET

Only a biased network like CNN would even drag this up. That's why you're the Clinton News network!

Brooklyn, NY 11203   July 29th, 2007 10:13 am ET

If he was not guilty, why was money paid?

Hopefully more of this will come out and he can be stopped before he buys the oval office as he did with city hall.

I would not inflict him on the rest of the country.

Don't believe the hype.

Greg Di   July 29th, 2007 11:14 am ET

pretty tame compared to the naughty admissions of the Schwarzenator..did not seem to hurt him

FedUpWithPolitics, Austin, TX   July 29th, 2007 11:21 am ET

Actually….Bloomberg has a history of being accused of sexual harassment although little was spoken of it when he ran for office and then reelection. Check with EEOC to see if any charges of discrimination have been filed against him, well….that is unless his record has been expunged..hmmmm ….only a rich man with a guilty conscience would have his record expunged. I've read of many details from his sordid affairs and the hostile environment he created for his employees. He'd be a fool to run for office with all the salacious details that will be revealed and would prove quite embarrassing to Bloomberg.

steve, Bakersfield, ca   July 29th, 2007 11:27 am ET

And, how is this different from what the previous president did???

Patrick, Cincinnati OH   July 29th, 2007 1:27 pm ET

"Only a biased network like CNN would even drag this up. That’s why you’re the Clinton News network!"

Their biased to print facts yes…. if you want fantasy go back to watching Fox so they can feed you your pablum.

Scrapiron, The Blue Ridge Mts, Va   July 29th, 2007 2:32 pm ET

It's comical reading the leftie communist comments about FOX news. They are scared to death because FOX is the only news network that consistantly has someone from both sides on every questionable issue. Give it up, FOX wins and the communist news network loses, daily. The other left wing communist outlets are all in trouble and soon to be no more. Going broke is good for outfits like the NY/LA Slimes.

Jeff Spangler, Arlington, VA   July 29th, 2007 3:31 pm ET

I recall from a New Yorker story on Bloomie years ago that he had a rather raunchy mouth typical of many Masters of the Universe. So he's a rich pig who needs servicing– no news here.

Patrick, Cincinnati,OH   July 30th, 2007 11:30 am ET

"The other left wing communist outlets are all in trouble and soon to be no more. "

OK Senator McCarthy whatever you say. Why don't you try to back up your statement about supposed left wing outlets with actual facts instead of just making an unfounded claim like they do on Fox (faux) news?

Sorry I don't see any any left wing outlets collapsing. Air America may not have done so well as a for profit news agency… but most of the shows that were on it still exist in one form or another. Most of us liberals have computers since we're more educated… so we can listen online.

James, Phoenix AZ   July 30th, 2007 5:44 pm ET

"America may not have done so well as a for profit news agency"

Not done so well???

They opened their doors in 2004 claiming to have secured $30 million in venture capital - which proved later to only be $6 million.

Sued by numerous affiliates, Air America filed bankrupcy in October 2006.

Franken is leaving and the Green Family (who bought Air America) is feverishly performing CPR and juicing up the paddles in an attempt to shock some life into the organization.

Aside from Air America and NPR - what other liberal talk-shows are out there?

Breaking: Isaiah Thomas Is Lady Harasser, Lousy Basketbal Coach / Jossip   October 2nd, 2007 1:06 pm ET

[...] pedigree, you just might parlay this "partial victory" into a successful campaign for Mayor of New York City, President of the United States, or, hell, even a seat on the United States Supreme [...]

Breaking: Isiah Thomas Is A Lady Harasser, Lousy Basketball Coach at MyQaeda Celebrity Fashion Blog   October 2nd, 2007 8:55 pm ET

[...] pedigree, you just might parlay this “partial victory” into a successful campaign for Mayor of New York City, or President of the United States, or, hell, even a seat on the United States Supreme [...]

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