Scott Stringer in a TV interview Monday dismissed a sexual assault allegation leveled by a former waitress who earlier this month accused him of unwanted groping and kissing in 1992 — claiming despite two sexual misconduct allegations that have torpedoed his campaign, voters “know the kind of person” the longtime pol is.
“These allegations [are from] literally as far back as 30 years ago, and it is unfortunate that has had a big impact on the campaign,” the mayoral candidate said on Bloomberg TV.
“But look, this is not an easy venture, when you run for mayor of New York City, and people are gonna come at you, but I have full faith in the voters of the city who know my 30-year record, they know the kind of person I am,” said Stringer, suggesting his three-decade record as a politician should factor into voting but sexual misconduct from the 1990s shouldn’t.
In April, former campaign volunteer Jean Kim, who said she was an unpaid intern, accused Stringer of repeatedly groping and kissing her as well as asking Kim multiple times, “Why won’t you f—k me?” while he was running for public advocate in 2000. Stringer has categorically denied the allegations, saying his casual relationship with Kim was consensual.
The second allegation came on June 4, when the New York Times reported that Teresa Logan alleged that Stringer groped and kissed her when she worked as a waitress at Uptown Local in the spring of 1992, when Logan was 18 and Stringer was 32.
“He just, like, totally pats me on the butt, and like, squeezes it,” Logan told the Times.
Stringer, in a statement responding to the new allegation, said he did “not remember” Logan and apologized “if I ever did anything to make her uncomfortable.”
On Monday, the city comptroller, who has called on others in politics to step aside after sexual assault allegations made against them, said that while the allegations pose a “challenge” to his campaign, the “inconsistencies” in the first accuser’s claims would lend credence to his denial.
Stringer — who stands at about fifth in the mayoral race, according to recent polls — has struggled to pick up more support after the sexual harassment and assault allegation. He’s lost several endorsements from fellow progressives, but has vowed not to drop out ahead of the June 22 election.
Asked Monday if he will recommend supporters rank a particular candidate second choice in the city’s first mayoral election with ranked-choice voting, Stringer said he hadn’t yet made a decision.
“I’m in the race,” he said. “I have no plans to make an endorsement, but that could change in the coming days.”
“It’s something I was thinking about over the weekend, and we’ll see how the next few days play, but right now I’m running to win.”