A former millennial mayor of an affluent Hamptons town has been accused of trying to pimp his former secretary for political favors in a new lawsuit.
Jesse Warren, 39, was elected the youngest mayor of Southampton Village on Long Island, New York, in 2019, when he was 36, but faced several previous allegations of misconduct in office.
In a new lawsuit, his former secretary Miranda Weber alleges that he “had volatile outbursts, made inappropriate and gender-based comments, and invaded (her) personal life.”
Included in the lawsuit are allegations that Warren attempted to force Weber into a “quid pro quo relationship with the administrator to secure a political favor.”
Jesse Warren, 39, the youngest mayor of Southampton Village on Long Island, New York, has been accused of trying to extract political favors from his former secretary in a new lawsuit.
Warren’s former secretary, Miranda Weber (pictured), claimed in an explosive new lawsuit that Warren “had volatile outbursts, made inappropriate and gender-based comments, and invaded (her) personal life” when she worked for him.
Warren already made headlines last year after he was ousted from office, as a political rival subsequently purchased the building he lived in and then moved to evict him, reports the New York Post.
He also faced allegations in January 2023 that he created a hostile work environment and subjected employees to gender and age discrimination, according to a complaint filed by then-Southampton Village administrator and chief financial officer Charlene Kagel-Betts.
Kagel-Betts’ complaint included claims that she observed Warren’s alleged attack on Weber, however her lawsuit was later dismissed by a judge. Warren denied the allegations against her.
The latest lawsuit filed by Weber, to which Warren has yet to respond, alleged that the former mayor harassed his former secretary, including accusations that he tried to pimp her for political gain.
Warren photographed with his wife Martyna Sokol, who he married shortly before being elected mayor of 36 years in 2019.
The mayor tried to put her in touch with a village trustee named Joseph McLoughlin because he needed his vote on a police chief contract, the lawsuit claims.
Warren allegedly repeatedly “ordered” her secretary to meet with McLoughlin regarding the “important” vote, told her that she “really liked women, especially young ones,” and mentioned that “McLoughlin liked her.”
There is no claim that McLoughlin was a party to this alleged coercion, although the lawsuit alleges that when they interacted, McLoughlin ‘commented that she worked too much and suggested they go out for drinks sometime.’
Weber said he was in his twenties at the time and only got out of the situation by making up a variety of excuses, including pretending he had Covid.
The lawsuit claims Warren tried to force Weber to get drinks with Town Manager Joseph McLoughlin (pictured) because she needed his vote on a police chief’s contract.
She also claimed that Warren made her work while she cared for Shiva for her grandmother, part of what she said was Warren’s “discriminatory encouragement of female employees.”
In another case, he claimed Warren had “a fit of rage” when she was called for jury duty.
The young mayor allegedly made her work overtime and on weekends, and “threatened to deny her a promotion and a raise unless she capitulated to his various demands,” according to the lawsuit.
When Weber finally resigned in 2022 after what he described as “insidious harassment, discrimination and retaliation” by Warren, he claimed he was owed tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid overtime.
Last year, Warren came under fire from locals after he allegedly leaked a confidential letter while Weber was trying to resolve claims privately, leading to his being ousted as mayor by his former running mate that summer.
The current mayor, William (Bill) Manger, told the New York Post that his city was “concerned” about the lawsuit, but did not issue a statement.