Timothy Pearson, a top aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, has been accused of sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation in a second lawsuit filed against him on Wednesday. The legal action marks the latest controversy facing either Adams himself or a close associate.
A former New York Police Department (NYPD) inspector, Pearson, is alleged to have engaged in retaliation and discrimination against retired NYPD sergeant Michael Ferrari while the latter worked in the Mayor‘s Office of Municipal Services Assessment. Ferrari claims he was forced into early retirement and lost $2 million in salary and pension benefits due to demotion, which he alleges happened after he raised concerns about Pearson’s behavior.
HARASSMENT AND CORRUPTION.
The lawsuit — filed in the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan — follows an initial claim lodged by retired NYPD sergeant Roxanne Ludemann accusing Pearson of harassment and retaliation after she rejected his inappropriate advances last March. Ferrari does not allege receiving personal advances from Pearson but insists he witnessed his untoward conduct towards female colleagues.
According to Ferrari’s lawsuit, he was appointed by a superior to supervise Pearson’s interaction with female colleagues. His complaint points to a pervasive “hostile work environment” impacting all team members, irrespective of gender. The lawsuit also refers to Pearson’s alleged commentary regarding city contracts — particularly the discontinuation of an illegal immigrant shelter due to flooding — which, it asserts, expressed his intent to exploit such situations financially.
MAYOR ADAMS UNDER SCRUTINY.
Pearson isn’t the only New York City official accused of sexual crimes and public corruption. Mayor Eric Adams himself was accused of committing sexual assault last November. The alleged incident took place in 1993.
Adams is also the subject of two additional probes involving campaign finance schemes. The FBI is investigating his 2021 mayoral campaign over foreign donations. Meanwhile, the Democrat mayor has also been tied to a straw-donor scheme by supports hoping to gain lucrative city contracts.