NEW YORK — Mayor Eric Adams is denying a woman’s claim that he sexually assaulted her 30 years ago.
The allegation comes in a lawsuit filed Wednesday night.
A woman says Adams sexually assaulted her in 1993 when he was with the NYPD. Normally, that would be beyond the statute of limitations and too long ago to sue. But the Adult Survivors Act suspended the statute of limitations for a year, until midnight on Thursday.
The mayor had planned to spend his morning serving pies and talking about Thanksgiving. Instead, he found himself fielding questions on a completely different topic.
“The allegation absolutely did not happen. I don’t remember who this person is. I don’t even remember meeting them. I have spent my life protecting people,” Adams said.
In the lawsuit, a woman alleges Adams sexually assaulted her when they both worked for the city and is seeking at least $5 million. The lawsuit does not go into detail about the allegations.
It says: “The claims asserted herein allege intentional and negligent acts and omissions for physical, psychological and other injuries sustained as a result of conduct that would constitute sexual offences”.
It is one of three Adult Survivors Act lawsuits filed this week by New York City-based attorney Megan Goddard.
“But this absolutely never happened, and it’s just unfortunate,” Adams said.
It does not name people who claim to be victims of sexual abuse unless they choose to identify themselves publicly.
The lawsuit is not only against Adams, but also against the NYPD Transit Bureau and the NYPD Guardians Association.
They have been contacted, along with the lawyer who filed the lawsuit and the accuser, but we have not heard back.
