SD Supe Nathan Fletcher Resigns From Board Of Supervisors

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA — Embattled Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, facing a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault and harassment, resigned his position as representative for the 4th District on the San Diego County Board in a statement posted on social media.

Fletcher announced on Sunday he was entering a treatment center for post-traumatic stress, trauma and alcohol abuse and forgoing a run for state Senate.

He posted on Twitter on Wednesday night that he was resigning from the Board of Supervisors at the request of his wife, former Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, to focus on his mental health.

"The strain on my wife and family over this past week has been immense and unbearable. A combination of my personal mistakes plus false accusations has created a burden that my family shouldn't have to bear. I will be resigning from the Board of Supervisors, effective at the end of my medical leave," Fletcher posted on Twitter.

Gonzalez posted on Twitter that she asked her husband to resign "to lessen the strain on our family."

"I'm relieved he is finally getting treatment he needs. Thank you to everyone who has reached out today," Gonzalez posted on Twitter.

Two members of Fletcher's staff also resigned, according to reports from Fox 5 in San Diego.

Fletcher posted on Twitter that his decision to resign was "solely based on what is best for my family."

"I am grateful to my constituents for the honor of serving you, my incredible team who worked tirelessly to make a real difference, and our county workers who put it all on the line for those most in need everyday. I am proud of what we accomplished together," Fletcher posted on Twitter.

Fletcher, was also the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Chair, is being sued by a woman who alleges he sexually assaulted and harassed her.

The plaintiff, former MTS public information officer Grecia Figueroa, alleges Fletcher groped her on two occasions and pursued a sexual relationship with her for months, leading to her abrupt firing on the day Fletcher announced his state Senate candidacy.

Fletcher admits having an affair but denies the allegations of assault and harassment.

He released a statement Wednesday -- three days after announcing he would be checking into a treatment center -- which said he "made a terrible mistake engaging in consensual interactions with someone outside my marriage," who is now seeking "millions of dollars from me and my family with the threat of not only embarrassment but a willingness to lie about the circumstances and nature of the interactions."

"I have not done the things they are alleging, but I did violate the basic trust and loyalty of my marriage and set a terrible example for our children," Fletcher said.

Figueroa alleges that beginning in 2021, Fletcher began "stalking" her social media account, then sought to meet with her privately on several occasions. On two of those occasions, she claims he assaulted her.

The complaint alleges Figueroa "was intimidated by the dynamic Fletcher had created" and says she "felt pressured to reciprocate Fletcher's advances because she knew he had authority, as both a career-politician and as Chair of the MTS Board, to destroy her career at MTS and to potentially humiliate her publicly if she made him angry."

She alleges that on Feb. 6, she was fired during a closed-door meeting and believes "that MTS terminated her employment because she was sexually harassed by Defendant Fletcher."

The lawsuit filed late Tuesday in San Diego Superior Court alleges sexual assault and battery and sexual harassment by Fletcher. It also names the MTS as a defendant and alleges sexual harassment, failure to prevent sexual harassment and retaliation, and whistleblower retaliation.

MTS General Counsel Karen Landers said in a statement that Fletcher resigned from his position as board chair Tuesday night and that San Diego City Councilman Stephen Whitburn will assume the position in the interim.

"MTS is aware of the lawsuit from a former MTS employee and has engaged an outside law firm to conduct an investigation. MTS does not comment on pending litigation," the statement read.

Fletcher's attorney, Danielle Hultenius Moore, said the woman's allegations "are false and are designed to drive headlines and not tell the truth."

The attorney said the woman pursued Fletcher, who "does not and never had authority over her employment."
"We will aggressively fight this issue in court and the full record will show the truth," Moore said.

On Sunday, Fletcher announced that he would forgo his state Senate run to deal with post-traumatic stress he attributed to his time in combat with the Marine Corps. He also said he was suffering from childhood trauma, which had been made worse by issues with alcohol.

Fletcher said he was seeking treatment at the recommendation of his therapist and the insistence of his wife.

In his response to the lawsuit's allegations, Fletcher said, "Lorena and I have already started to work through this, and that work must continue after I complete treatment for trauma and alcohol abuse. My wife has done nothing but love me completely and without reservation and the blame for allowing myself to be in this situation rests entirely on my shoulders. I will spend my life working to repair the damage done to my family."

-----------

ALSO SEE: SD Weekend: Daffodil Days; Easter Egg Hunts; Flower Fields Holi Fest

--------------

--City News Service, Inc.