San Diego mayor set to return to City Hall after therapy, faces recall drive

Watch: Mayor Bob Filner back in public as petition to recall grows

SAN DIEGO – The mayor of one of the United States’ largest cities was expected to return to work Monday after two weeks of therapy amid sexual harassment accusations from more than a dozen women.

The women include a university dean, a retired Navy rear admiral and the latest accuser, a 67-year-old great-grandmother and volunteer city worker who assists senior citizens.

Some of them say San Diego Mayor Bob Filner cornered them, groping and slobbering them with kisses. His former communications director, Irene McCormack Jackson, has filed a lawsuit claiming that he asked her to work without panties, demanded kisses, told her he wanted to see her naked and dragged her in a headlock while whispering in her ear.

The accusations have prompted an avalanche of calls for Filner to resign. A recall campaign kicked off in earnest Sunday.

Filner has acknowledged unacceptable behaviour but did not call it sexual harassment.

He has agreed not to meet with women alone on city business and has delegated broad authority to a new interim chief operating officer.

U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer are among several California politicians who have called on their fellow Democrat to step down.

Filner, a feisty liberal who served 10 terms in Congress before being elected mayor in November, has long had a reputation for berating employees and has been followed by rumours of inappropriate behaviour toward women.

Before going into therapy, Filner asked voters to be patient while he gets help.

“Before I even think of asking for forgiveness, I must demonstrate that my behaviour has changed. And that will only happen over time and only if such incidents never, ever happen again,” Filner said.

His lawyers and his office did not respond to interview requests.

Associated Press writer Julie Watson contributed.