Lawsuit Alleges Eric Adams Sexually Assaulted Coworker Who Asked For Promotion Help—NYC Mayor Denies Accusations
Topline
New York City Mayor Eric Adams was accused of sexually assaulting a former police co-worker in 1993 after she turned down his demands for sex in a lawsuit filed Monday, offering more details about an alleged incident that was first reported in court documents in November—but Adams has repeatedly denied the incident ever happened.
Adams is accused of sexually assaulting a former police coworker in 1993, allegations that he’s … [+]
Key Facts
Former police administrative aide Lorna Beach-Mathura accused Adams, who was at the time a Transit Police officer, of taking advantage of her when she asked for help with a promotion issue in the workplace, the lawsuit claims.
The legal complaint says Beach-Mathura wanted help ensuring she received a promotion and Adams, who agreed to discuss it with her, offered her a ride home to talk about the work problem.
The suit alleges that after the pair left work, Beach-Mathura realized Adams started driving away from her Coney Island home and instead drove towards the Hudson River, and eventually he pulled into a “remote, vacant lot” that was “away from the street.”
Adams allegedly assured Beach-Mathura that he was pulling over so he could “concentrate” on what she had to say, but then proceeded to tell her he “also needed some help” and “began rubbing his penis through his clothes with his hand.”
The lawsuit alleges Adams told Beach-Mathura he “needed” her to perform oral sex in exchange for help at work and “unzipped his pants and pulled out his erect penis.”
The suit says Adams then proceeded to place Beach-Mathura’s hand on his penis and asked her to “give [him] a hand job,” but when she repeatedly refused, Adams allegedly masturbated before driving her to a subway station.
Beach-Mathura eventually got the promotion, but she said she was forced to transfer to the probation department and her “work duties were severely downgraded,” and her role was terminated months later.
Chief Critic
Sylvia Hinds-Radix, New York City Corporation Counsel representing Adams, said Adams “fully denies these outrageous allegations and the events described [in the suit].” Hinds-Radix went on to say “we expect full vindication in court,” and denied the mayor had “any sway over promotions of civilian employees.” Adams had previously denied the allegation, saying in November that “it absolutely did not happen.” He said then he didn’t recall meeting the accuser and “would never harm anyone in that magnitude.”
Key Background
Beach-Mathura’s lawyer filed a summons in November with minimal details about the allegations against Adams. The summons accused Adams of sexually assaulting a fellow city employee in 1993 but did not include Beach-Mathura’s name or personal account of what happened. Beach-Mathura filed that complaint just before the expiration of the New York Adult Survivors Act, which gave accusers one year to file lawsuits against alleged sexual abusers regardless of when the abuse occurred. In Monday’s filing, Beach-Mathura said she was prompted to file suit over Adam’s alleged behavior because she was “appalled that her sexual assaulter had become so powerful and that the become even more so,” referring to his run for mayor. On top of the allegations made against Adams, the Adult Survivors Act prompted a series of high-profile lawsuits including against former President Donald Trump, producer Sean “Diddy” Combs, actor Jame Foxx and Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose.
Further Reading
