Finally

San Diego Mayor Resigns

Bob Filner stepping down after six weeks of sexual-abuse controversy.

He swore he wouldn’t, but it seems like the 18 different women alleging sexual abuse have changed his mind. On Friday, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner agreed to resign, after six weeks of controversy that increased public pressure on him to leave office. The San Diego City Council voted 7–0 in favor of his resignation, which is part of a deal his lawyers made in a lawsuit against him. After the vote, Filner spoke at the city council meeting and apologized to "all the citizens" before becoming defensive. "But the hysteria that has been created is the hysteria of a lynch mob," Filner said, criticizing how "rumors become allegations, allegations become facts." Filner declined resignation last month, instead agreeing to spend two weeks at a behavioral counseling clinic. However, the disgraced mayor still faces civil and criminal charges.