Mayor: Woman's Allegations 'Blatant, Disgusting' Lies

Photo via Harry Ramos’ official Facebook page

By PAUL J. YOUNG, City News Service

Murrieta Mayor Harry Ramos on Friday asserted his innocence and described allegations that he had sexually harassed a woman earlier this year as a “blatant, disgusting attack” on his character without any merit whatsoever.

“I have never in all of my life inappropriately touched a woman or forced myself onto a woman,” Ramos said during a media briefing outside Murrieta City Hall. “When I heard the allegations ... the news was pretty devastating.”

Ramos scheduled the briefing to directly respond to allegations made public Thursday by Ramona resident Kathleen Smith, a former radio station sales representative who claims the mayor made unwanted sexual advances toward her during a chamber of commerce event at the Murrieta Spectrum Mall in January.

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According to Smith and her attorneys, Ramos was “very aggressively” approaching her, touching and kissing her intimately. Smith has filed a claim against the city seeking unspecified damages to compensate her for the “emotional trauma” she suffered.

“I’ve worked my whole life to become the man I am today,” Ramos said. “After 9/11, I proudly carried myself as a Marine.

“And since having the honor of becoming an elected official, I have held myself to even higher standards. So, without any hesitation, I can say I never sexually assaulted Ms. Smith. There is no question this is a blatant and disgusting attack on my character and family, and has caused me and my family distress and pain.”

Ramos, elected to the City Council in 2012, is the father of two young girls.

“This type of made-up lies, whatever the motivation, hurts and belittles the victims of real sex crimes, and because of this circus, makes it harder to report, to be believed, and ultimately for justice (to be delivered),” Ramos said.

“All associated with this sham should be ashamed.”

Ramos alluded to political disagreements likely driving the spin intended to harm his public image. One of the three witnesses named by Smith and her attorneys is a political opponent, according to the mayor.

Ramos called Smith a “political pawn” set up to “destroy me personally simply because I refuse to vote or go along with their crony politics and support chosen developers and friends within the city.”

Smith told City News Service on Thursday that she had been a victim of sexual abuse as a child and her Jan. 22 encounter with the mayor “brought it all back.”

“It’s very disappointing that somebody with power would take liberties and assert that power to prey on someone like me,” the mother of three said.

Her attorney, Dan Gilleon, acknowledged that both Smith and Ramos were drinking at the event, but said his client was by no means under the influence.

Gilleon outlined a scenario in which Smith spurned all of Ramos’ advances, but he said the honorably discharged Marine would not give up.

“He grabbed her butt. She was shocked, but she agreed to let him walk her to her car,” Gilleon said. “As they’re walking, he kisses her, sticks his tongue down her throat and tries to block her way.”

Despite his overbearing behavior, Smith consented to giving the mayor a ride to his car at the other end of the parking lot, according to the attorney.

“He climbs over into her seat and puts his hand up her skirt,” Gilleon said. “She doesn’t know what to do. She doesn’t want to make the guy angry.”

Ramos eventually exited the vehicle after Smith “politely” asked him to leave, Gilleon said.

The city has six months to respond to Smith’s claim for damages. Assistant City Attorney Jeff Morris told City News Service that the City Council could take up the matter in closed session, or just ignore it.

If the claim is not resolved, Smith intends to file a lawsuit against Ramos and the city, Gilleon said, conjecturing that a jury finding for the plaintiffs could net a “seven-figure” windfall.