San Diego mayor out of rehab, but locked out of office | CNN

Businesswoman <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/21/us/san-diego-mayor-bob-filner-scandal/index.html" target="_blank">Dianne York</a> told CNN that<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/21/us/san-diego-mayor-bob-filner-scandal/index.html"> San Diego Mayor Bob Filner </a>put his hands on her buttocks during this photo op after a meeting three months ago. York said there were witnesses. She said both her advisers and Filner's were in the room at the time. Click through the gallery of other women who have come forward in the case.

San Diego mayor's accusers —

Businesswoman Dianne York told CNN that San Diego Mayor Bob Filner put his hands on her buttocks during this photo op after a meeting three months ago. York said there were witnesses. She said both her advisers and Filner's were in the room at the time. Click through the gallery of other women who have come forward in the case.

courtesy dianne york

<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1023196" target="_blank">Caryl Iseman</a>, a San Diego real estate agent, attended an anti-Filner rally in August. She told CNN iReporter Chris Morrow that at a fundraiser 25 years ago, after photos had been taken, Filner "decided he could reach around and grab my breast." Iseman indicated it was the first time she had spoken publicly about the alleged incident. "The sheriff's department knows about it. I have not yet come forward yet with it ... but if it's needed to establish the timeline of how long this guy has been doing this, I will."

San Diego mayor's accusers —

Caryl Iseman, a San Diego real estate agent, attended an anti-Filner rally in August. She told CNN iReporter Chris Morrow that at a fundraiser 25 years ago, after photos had been taken, Filner "decided he could reach around and grab my breast." Iseman indicated it was the first time she had spoken publicly about the alleged incident. "The sheriff's department knows about it. I have not yet come forward yet with it ... but if it's needed to establish the timeline of how long this guy has been doing this, I will."

Courtesy Caryl Iseman

San Diego mayor's accusers —

Peggy Shannon, a 67-year-old great-grandmother who works at the Senior Citizens Service Desk in San Diego City Hall, faced "continuous inappropriate sexual advances by Filner while trying to do her job," according to the office of her attorney, Gloria Allred.

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San Diego mayor's accusers —

Kathryn Vaughn, a San Diego attorney, told CNN affiliate KFMB that after her husband walked away at a public event 10 years ago, Filner "made an inappropriate movement on my body."

Daniel Knighton/ZUMAPRESS

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/us/san-diego-mayor-scandal/index.html" target="_blank">Eldonna Fernandez </a>says Filner left her a flirtatious e-mail after they met at a Healing and Hiring Fair held by the National Women's Veterans Association of America in 2012. "Hi, it's your newly favorite congressman, Bob Filner. You know, the one who fell in love with you at your last speech," Filner said in the voicemail. Filner, 70, has been dogged for weeks by sexual harassment allegations. He has refused to resign.

San Diego mayor's accusers —

Eldonna Fernandez says Filner left her a flirtatious e-mail after they met at a Healing and Hiring Fair held by the National Women's Veterans Association of America in 2012. "Hi, it's your newly favorite congressman, Bob Filner. You know, the one who fell in love with you at your last speech," Filner said in the voicemail. Filner, 70, has been dogged for weeks by sexual harassment allegations. He has refused to resign.

CNN

Army veteran <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/us/san-diego-mayor-scandal/index.html" target="_blank">Gerri Tindley</a> says Filner got too close to her at a National Women's Veterans Association of America event where she gave a speech about being raped, which she said happened during her eight years of service. Tindley said she felt uncomfortable as Filner moved closer and closer -- so close, she said, that she nearly fell off the couch trying to move away from him.

San Diego mayor's accusers —

Army veteran Gerri Tindley says Filner got too close to her at a National Women's Veterans Association of America event where she gave a speech about being raped, which she said happened during her eight years of service. Tindley said she felt uncomfortable as Filner moved closer and closer -- so close, she said, that she nearly fell off the couch trying to move away from him.

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Michelle Tyler, center, has accused<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/06/us/california-san-diego-mayor/index.html" target="_blank"> Filner of unwanted sexual advances</a>. During a news conference, Tyler said that during a visit to his office in June, Filner rubbed her arm and asked for dinner dates in exchange for his helping Katherine Ragazzino, right, a brain-injured Iraq war veteran.

San Diego mayor's accusers —

Michelle Tyler, center, has accused Filner of unwanted sexual advances. During a news conference, Tyler said that during a visit to his office in June, Filner rubbed her arm and asked for dinner dates in exchange for his helping Katherine Ragazzino, right, a brain-injured Iraq war veteran.

Gregory Bull/AP

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/05/us/san-diego-filner-scandal/index.html">Renee Estill-Sombright</a> told CNN affiliate KGTV that the mayor called her "beautiful" at a church breakfast in June, said he couldn't take his eyes off her, asked whether she was married and then said he'd like to take her out some time.

San Diego mayor's accusers —

Renee Estill-Sombright told CNN affiliate KGTV that the mayor called her "beautiful" at a church breakfast in June, said he couldn't take his eyes off her, asked whether she was married and then said he'd like to take her out some time.

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Emily Gilbert <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/02/us/california-san-diego-mayor/index.html">accused Filner of sexual harassment</a> on Friday, August 2. She told CNN she was hired to sing at a fundraising event in December and the mayor grabbed her, slid his hand down the small of her back and gave her "tush a pat." He then asked her: "Oh, Marilyn, can I get your card?" she recalled.

San Diego mayor's accusers —

Emily Gilbert accused Filner of sexual harassment on Friday, August 2. She told CNN she was hired to sing at a fundraising event in December and the mayor grabbed her, slid his hand down the small of her back and gave her "tush a pat." He then asked her: "Oh, Marilyn, can I get your card?" she recalled.

From Emily Gilbert/Facebook

San Diego mayor's accusers —

Filner's former spokeswoman, Irene McCormack Jackson, has also accused him of sexual harassment and filed a suit against him. She said Filner subjected her and other women to "crude and disgusting" comments and inappropriate touching. She resigned as Filner's communications director in June after, she said, she decided the mayor would not change his behavior.

Lenny Ignelzi/AP

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Nonprofit founder Morgan Rose said she met Filner in 2009 when she was lobbying for her organization, which works with military and other families hurt by domestic violence. She says he looked her up and down, stared into her eyes and said, "Your eyes have bewitched me." He then moved to her side of the booth, sat beside her, pinned her to the wall, and put his arm around her, Rose alleged.

CNN

San Diego mayor's accusers —

Political consultant Laura Fink has accused the mayor of patting her "posterior" at a fundraising event in 2005. At the time, Fink was working as the deputy manager of Filner's congressional campaign. She said she thinks Filner should resign.

CNN

San Diego mayor's accusers —

Sharon Bernie-Cloward, president of the San Diego Port Tenants Association, claims that when Filner was running for mayor in 2012, he approached her at a political event. "He touched me, actually groped me on my backside inappropriately," she told KPBS. "I was left there startled and fearful. In fact, I actually had someone walk me to my car that night."

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Patti Roscoe, a prominent businesswoman in San Diego's tourism and hospitality industry, told KPBS that on numerous occasions, Filner "put me in what I guess now is the famous headlock." She told the station: "I felt fearful, even as well as I knew him, because it was an invasion into my space. And he would come in and try to kiss me on the lips, and I'd have to squirm to get away."

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San Diego mayor's accusers —

Veronica "Ronne" Froman, a retired Navy rear admiral and San Diego's former chief operating officer, told KPBS that she and Filner, then a congressman, met a few years ago at his office after everyone had left. "He stopped me and he got very close to me. And he ran his finger up my cheek like this, and he whispered to me, 'Do you have a man in your life?' " she said.

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San Diego mayor's accusers —

Joyce Gattas, a dean at San Diego State University, told KPBS that she had several "interactions" with Filner "where he's held me too tight, a kiss on the cheek which is inappropriate, hands on the knee that last too long."

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San Diego mayor's accusers —

Lisa Curtin, the director of government and military education at San Diego City College, told KPBS that Filner grabbed her hand, fingered her wedding ring and asked if it was real. She also said he tried to kiss her; she moved her head and felt his tongue on her cheek.

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Photos: San Diego mayor's accusers

Story highlights

Bob Filner is believed to be back in the city he governs after a stint in rehab

The mayor said he would start a two-week program on August 5 but started earlier

A growing tide of women are making sexual harassment allegations against him

Reports: Mayor's chief of staff changed his office locks to preserve potential evidence

Los Angeles CNN —

San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, facing a growing tide of sexual harassment allegations, has completed his two-week intensive behavior therapy a week early and will begin outpatient treatment, his lawyer said.

But he might not be back at work in his office any time soon. His chief of staff changed the locks, according to numerous reports, including one by CNN affiliate KFMB.

Attorney James Payne said in a statement that Filner began treatment on July 29, a week before the mayor previously told reporters he would start. Filner was to complete that phase of treatment Saturday, Payne said.

Did mayor target victims of military sexual assault?

In the same statement, Payne said Filner would take some personal time this week and would not be available for comment.

It is unclear when Filner will return to work, but he is believed to be back in the city he governs after his rehab stint.

Victims start talking

An increasing number of women are saying that Filner inappropriately touched them, prompting his chief of staff to resign and fellow Democrats to call for him to step down.

In a personal letter to the mayor Friday, Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, who addresses Filner as “Bob,” wrote: “We’ve known each other for a long time. … So I am speaking to you now on a personal and professional level, and asking you to step down as mayor and get the help you need as a private citizen.”

California’s other senator, Democrat Dianne Feinstein, has also asked Filner to resign.

Eleven women have now accused Filner, 70, of sexual harassment while he was mayor or a congressman.

The latest is nurse Michelle Tyler, who said Tuesday that Filner rubbed her arm in his office and asked for dinner dates in June in exchange for his helping a brain-injured Iraq war veteran. She said Filner told her he wanted to kiss her.

While Filner acknowledged last month that “I need help” and said “I’m clearly doing something wrong,” he has also said he believes he will be vindicated when all the facts come out. The mayor has vowed not to resign.

The idea that Filner has now completed rehab and could come back to lead San Diego did not sit well with many of his constituents.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Gary Sehnert, a San Diego resident. “Why is this continuing?”

“Really mayor? You did what you did and now you want to stay as mayor,” said William Sawaya, another San Diego resident. “(Expletive), you’re not staying as mayor.”

Filner served 10 terms, or 20 years, in Congress before being elected mayor of San Diego last year.

CNN’s Kyung Lah reported from Los Angeles. Melissa Gray reported and wrote in Atlanta. Dan Merica contributed to this report.