A chaotic night of accusations played out in real time late Saturday between Windsor's Dominic Foppoli and a fellow councilmember, culminating in a sixth account of sexual misconduct against the embattled mayor.
It began with Foppoli releasing an extensive statement to KCBS Radio, his first since allegations of sexual assault arose earlier in the week, first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Foppoli again called the accusations of sexual assault "unfounded," lashing out at the reporter behind the story and public officials who had not supported him through the episode.
"I am far from a person without faults, but I am not a rapist nor have I ever pressured any female to engage in sexual conduct with me," Foppoli said.
The mayor also levied a charge of his own against Windsor Town Councilmember and Sonoma County Deputy District Attorney Esther Lemus, saying that he was forced into a sexual situation at a government conference. Foppoli alleged Lemus "used her political professional, and community sway combined with alcohol."
In a separate statement dictated to KCBS Radio, Lemus pushed back against Foppoli's accusation, with her attorney calling the allegations "outrageous." Instead, Lemus contends that on two occasions in the past year, she believed she was drugged and put into sexually compromising positions - with the common element being Foppoli.
Lemus believed the allegation was levied as retribution for her not supporting Foppoli after a Chronicle report detailed the accusations against him, in part because of a video she said he possesses of her in a compromising position.
The charge would make Lemus the sixth accuser against Foppoli.
In his lengthy statement, Foppoli added he was pressured by Lemus to not say anything about their encounter and that he knows of at least two others who have had similar interactions. He's calling on Lemus to resign her position of Deputy District Attorney, while also asserting that he has no intention of resigning his own position as Windsor mayor.
Some of the allegations against Foppoli may be beyond the reach of prosecutors, as they're more than a decade old.
Following the Chronicle's story, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office has opened a criminal investigation.
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