A member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns is being asked to step down as mayor of East Orange, N.J., after previously sealed testimony from a discrimination suit against him revealed he had an admitted long-term affair with a former city hall employee.
On Tuesday, several council members received voluminous copies of previously undisclosed depositions where [Mayor Robert] Bowser admitted having a sexual relationship with Corletta Hicks, his research assistant at the time.
The relationship included "open mouth kisses" and oral sex in the mayor's office in city hall.
Hicks has previously spoken to the press about the lawsuit, which was filed in July of 2011. Their affair began in late 2008 and when Hicks filed a complaint with human resources, she was transferred to the municipal court in November 2010.
Bowser, who has been embroiled in a competitive Democratic primary, had previously denied the affair and harassment. The East Orange City Council is now calling on him to resign, the Star Ledger reports.
Bowser is the latest member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a gun control group led by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, to come under controversy.
Spring Valley, N.Y., Mayor Noramie Jasmin was arrested last month for allegedly accepting bribes from an undercover FBI agent as part of a wide-ranging federal corruption probe that netted six New York state politicians.
Democratic Gainesville, Fla., Mayor Craig Lowe was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and property damage after police found him asleep in his car at the scene of a crash in March.
Marcus Hook, Pa., Mayor James Schiliro (R.) was arrested for reckless endangerment and other criminal charges in March after he allegedly fired a handgun inside his home during a booze-fueled argument. Schiliro had allegedly served the 20-year-old man alcohol and demanded sexual favors when the dispute broke out.
Other members and former members of Mayors Against Illegal Guns have previously been charged with felony corruption, assault of a police officer, and child sex crimes.