(NewsNation) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams allegedly sexually assaulted a former NYPD administrative aid when the two worked together in 1993, a new complaint filed Monday claims.
The complaint against the Democrat, who worked as a police officer in NYC before entering politics, was lodged as part of a lawsuit initially filed by Lorna Beach-Mathura in November under the Adult Survivors Act.
Adams, the complaint says, then leader of the NYPD’s Transit Bureau, told Beach-Mathura that he would help her she says she was passed over for a promotion because of racism. The reason she had gone to Adams, the suit stated, was because Beach-Mathura had gone to other police brass without much luck. However, when Adams picked her up, instead of driving her home, as he had promised to, he took Beach-Mathura to a “remote, vacant lot.” Adams said he did this because he wanted to “have time” to talk with Beach-Mathura, according to the suit.
After parking his car, Adams said he thought he could help Beach-Mathura, but that he “also needed some help,” and began rubbing his penis through his clothes with his hands, the suit alleges.
“Plaintiff was horrified and terrified to realize that Defendant Adams had an erection,” the lawsuit said.
Adams, the suit said, then told Beach-Mathura that he “needed a blow job,” and began “cajoling, demanding and begging” her for oral sex.
“When she refused, Defendant Adams forcibly pushed Plaintiff’s hand onto his erect penis, and then, after she removed her hand, masturbated himself to completion and ejaculated on her,” according to the lawsuit.
Because of this, Beach-Mathura alleges sexual assault, battery, infliction of emotional distress, gender discrimination, retaliation and sexual harassment. The lawsuit seeks $5 million in damages.
In an email to NewsNation Monday, New York City Corporation Counsel Hon. Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix said Adams denies the allegations and they expect “full vindication in court.”
When the lawsuit was first filed, Adams said he did not remember meeting Beach-Mathura.
“I don’t recall ever meeting this person and I would never harm anyone in that magnitude. It did not happen,” Adams said at the time, as reported by journalist Morgan McKay from WNYW.
Eventually, Beach-Mathura received the promotion she wanted — though the suit says this was “in title” only, as she was then forced to transfer to the Department of Probation, meaning she lost her seniority and was put in a nonsupervisory position.
“Indeed, her failure to acquiesce to Defendant Adams’ quid pro quo demands seemed to have led to the transfer,” the lawsuit said.
As a divorced mother with young children at the time, Beach-Mathura didn’t report Adams out of fear of losing her job.
“It was widely known within the NYPD and the Defendant Transit Bureau that reporting or objecting to unlawful behavior could result in retaliation,” the suit stated.
However, when he went on to run for Mayor of New York City, “his comments continued to strike Plaintiff as hypocritical and sanctimonious,” leading Beach-Mathura to file the lawsuit after the state passed the Adult Survivors Act.
“The effects of that sexual assault, betrayal, and astonishing abuse of power, continue to haunt Plaintiff to this day,” the lawsuit, which also names the city, NYPD and the department’s Guardians Association, said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.
