Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg’s campaign said that some of the comments he made in the past to women were “disrespectful and wrong.”
None of the cases have made it to trial—five resulted in settlements—and only three cases are still active.
In one of the cases settled out of court, a woman alleged that Bloomberg repeatedly made crude and sexist comments. She said he told an employee who announced a pregnancy that she should “kill it.”
“He told me to ‘kill it’ in a serious monotone voice,” the woman alleged in a lawsuit. “I asked ‘What? What did you just say?’ He looked at me and repeated in a deliberate manner ‘kill it.’”
“The atmosphere was toxic and harassing,” Bonnie Josephs, who represented that woman, told ABC.
Julie Wood, a Bloomberg campaign spokesperson, said in a statement that Bloomberg made some “wrong” statements in the past.
“Mike Bloomberg has supported and empowered women throughout his career—from appointing women to the very top positions in his mayoral administration to supporting women candidates for higher office to an industry-leading 26-weeks of paid family leave at his company,” she said.
“At the same time, Mike has come to see that some of what he has said is disrespectful and wrong. He believes his words have not always aligned with his values and the way he has led his life.”
A Bloomberg advisor issued a statement that included the exact same words: “Mike has come to see that some of what he has said is disrespectful and wrong. He believes his words have not always aligned with his values and the way he has led his life.”
His team also pointed reporters to how Bloomberg promoted abortion while mayor of New York City.
Donna Clancy, an attorney for three former employees who have sued Bloomberg and the company, told ABC that Bloomberg LP has a culture in which “women are not valued.”
“In fact, they’re objectified, based upon the complaints that I’ve filed on behalf of three plaintiffs and the history that’s listed in those complaints,” she said.
