Scott Stringer Files Defamation Lawsuit Over Sexual Misconduct Claim

NEW YORK CITY — Former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer filed a defamation suit Monday against a woman who accused him of sexual harassment during his ultimately unsuccessful mayoral run, court records show.

Stringer filed in Manhattan's state supreme court a defamation lawsuit against Jean Kim, whom he accused of misrepresenting a consensual relationship during the 2021 mayoral race.

"Kim's statements were false," the lawsuits contend. "[They] caused Mr. Stringer emotional pain and suffering, as well as injury to his reputation, honor and dignity."

Kim and her attorneys did not respond to requests for comment from the New York Times, first to report the filing.

The statements in question date back to April 2021 when Kim, a lobbyist, said Stringer kissed and touched her without consent when she was his intern with his 2001 campaign to be Public Advocate.

“He inappropriately and relentlessly pursued a sexual relationship with me,” Kim said at the time.

Stringer, who denied the accusations, faced a wave of calls that he resign and drop out of the mayor's race, ultimately won by Mayor Eric Adams.

In the lawsuit, Stringer says Kim was a volunteer and not an intern, that they had an "months-long on-and-off relationship", and that he did not touch her without consent.

The defamation suit also references U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, whom Stringer's attorneys say recirculated Kim's statements during her unsuccessful race this year against U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler to represent upper Manhattan's District 12.

"Maloney desperately sought to distinguish herself from Nadler," the suit contends. "To do so, she weaponized allegations against Mr. Stringer and used them to attack Nadler."

The Times notes defamation cases against public figures are difficult to prove and that Kim could argue for a dismissal based on New York's statute of limitations.

This might explain the Maloney reference— a means of proving republication—but a media law expert told the Times the arguments were "really thin."

Lee Levine told the Times, “If there’s no clear evidence that the defendant directed the third party to make the statement, it’s fairly likely the case would be dismissed."