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“We never really tried to find out what was behind the near-incessant rumors that always floated around Filner,” Curlee writes. So says former KUSI-TV reporter Doug Curlee, who’s getting national attention, from conservatives in particular, for his new column about the local media’s supposed failure to pursue what it new about Filner’s behavior. The Media Was Filner’s AccompliceĬlaim: We knew about his abusive habits all along. The national media has left a lot to be desired as it parachutes in to cover the scandal. Here are four persistent myths that keep cropping up when people talk about our mayor’s mess. Department of State lifted the MEK’s designation as a terrorist organization as of September 28, 2012.Four Persistent Myths About the Filner Scandal | Voice of San Diego Closeįor more than three weeks, hordes of politicians, talking heads and armchair pundits have been poring (and snickering) over Mayor Bob Filner’s sexual harassment scandal.īut the truth is often missing in action.
BOB FILNER AND THE MONSTER WITHIN KPBS FREE
Filner accepted free trips, and paid engagements to speak in favor of delisting them as a terrorist organization. Filner considered the MEK an ally against the Iranian regime. People’s Mujahedin of Iranįilner, along with several, senior US officials, argued that the People’s Mujahedin of Iran, also known as the MEK, should have its designation as a terrorist group removed. The House Ethics Committee began a probe into the event, but it was later dropped. Filner entered a plea after prosecutors reduced the charge to trespassing. He was later charged with assault and battery. He released a statement saying "suffice it to say now, that the story that has appeared in the press is factually incorrect and the charges are ridiculous". He was asked to leave the area several times by airline employees but refused to do so until airport police were called in.įilner was on his way to visit troops in Iraq at the time of the incident. It was at this point that it is alleged that Filner attempted to enter the employee-only area of the office. Filner entered the baggage claim office and became irritated when the employee was busy helping another customer and asked the congressman to wait his turn.
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On August 20, 2007, Filner was involved in an altercation with a United Airlines employee at Dulles International Airport after he became upset that his baggage had not yet arrived on a baggage carousel. Senators Daniel Inouye, Daniel Akaka, and Ted Stevens for their role in securing the passage of this legislation. Antonio Diaz filed a bill in the Philippine House of Representatives seeking to confer honorary Filipino citizenship on Filner and U.S. In 2009 Filner brokered a deal securing $198 million in pension benefits for Filipino veterans who had served for the United States in World War II in the form of a $15,000 lump sum payment as part of the 2009 stimulus bill.
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Filner’s accomplishments included legislation allowing Filipino veterans to maintain a small stipend from the government if they moved back to the Philippines, burial benefits, and access to VA clinics. Filipino issuesįilner’s district in south San Diego had one of the largest populations of Filipino Americans in the country, leading Filner to focus on issues relevant to the Philippines while in congress, especially Filipino veterans. Filner stayed on as ranking Democrat on the committee after the Republicans retook the House in the 2010 election.
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As chairman, Filner advocated for funding for veterans benefits, increased spending on veterans healthcare, and a new GI bill for veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq. Filner served on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and ascended to the chairmanship when the Democrats took over the House of representatives after the 2006 election. Veterans issuesĪlthough Filner did not serve in the Vietnam War due to a student deferment, he focused on veteran issues while in congress to enhance his reputation in military-oriented San Diego. While in congress, Filner was known for his combative personality, and for personally dealing with constituent issues. In 2008, Filner sponsored a resolution, passed by the House of Representatives, in support of National Aviation Maintenance Technician Day. He was one of the 31 who voted in the House to not count the electoral votes from Ohio in the 2004 presidential election. He is also a member of the Congressional Motorcycle Safety Caucus and International Conservation Caucus. Filner was a founding member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.