Former State Senate President Pro Tem leader John Burton was accused of sexual harassment Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by the director of his nonprofit organization dedicated to helping California's homeless children.
Posted on 01/24/2008 7:43:10 AM PST by SmithL
SAN FRANCISCO -- Former state Senate leader John Burton was sued Wednesday for $10 million by the executive director of his San Francisco charitable foundation, who claims he sexually harassed her by swearing at her and making lewd and suggestive comments on an almost daily basis.
Burton's attorney called the lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, a "shakedown" and predicted that Burton's "character and reputation will win out at the end of the day."
During a 35-year legislative career in which he rose to become California's second-most-powerful politician, Burton became well known for his mouth. A 2004 Chronicle article about the ex-bartender described him as "visceral, irascible, occasionally avuncular and routinely profane."
Kathleen Driscoll, a 48-year-old San Francisco resident now on stress-related medical leave from the John Burton Foundation, said in her lawsuit that Burton used more than salty language.
Driscoll said the former Democratic lawmaker repeatedly remarked on her choice of underwear and the appearance of her breasts, often mimicked masturbation in her presence and told her on roughly 20 occasions, "I had a dream about you last night," while raising his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.
At a news conference Wednesday, Driscoll's attorney played a recorded voice message in which a man she identified as Burton told Driscoll, "When you drop stuff off, I mean, stop in, will you? I'm not getting laid under the f- table."
Driscoll said she had filed suit after unsuccessfully complaining about Burton's behavior to the 75-year-old former lawmaker himself and to the foundation's personnel department.
"My whole life has been turned around, and I did nothing wrong," Driscoll said. "He bullied me and sexually harassed me. It's scary because he's powerful, and he told me that every day."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Former State Senate President Pro Tem leader John Burton was accused of sexual harassment Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by the director of his nonprofit organization dedicated to helping California's homeless children.
This will happen a lot since the Madison Square Garden/Knicks lawsuit where one guy does it, but the organization is held accountable and the deep pockets pay.
—had forgotten about theis loser—he was my congressman years ago when I lived in the Bay Area— he either resigned or didn’t run for another term because he was passed out on pot early AM daily-—
We find out his party affiliation in the 5th paragraph of the article.
If he were a Republican, it would be in the headline.
Same ole’ shitzu, different day.
He came to my office one time. The owners were trying to land a state contract and I think he was picking up his bribe, exucuse me, campaign contribution.
I believe he was termed out a few years back.
Well, it’s California, so when you finally see in print the guy is a Democrat, it’s in the 5th paragraph instead of the headline or the first paragraph.
Not like we couldn’t figure it out b/c it being California, but still, usually it’s near the end of the piece.
Is this the US Congressman who in the 70’s and 80’s used to give flamboyant and unusual speeches on the House floor high on cocaine?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=5&entry_id=23680
"When you drop stuff off, I mean, stop in, will you? I'm not getting laid under the f- table."
Actually, when you listen to it, you realize that he is NOT hitting on her, but just being salty. And I'm a conservative Republican that knows Burton to be a major-league pr-ck.
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