Tampa City Councilman Sued

More trouble for Tampa city councilman Orlando Gudes, who's now facing a lawsuit from a former aide and her daughter, who claim Gudes made sexually suggestive and inappropriate comments to the girl, who was just 13 at the time.

An attorney for the plaintiffs, Ethan Loeb, said "On a scale of 1 to 10, it's 100. It's absolutely disgusting."

The suit accuses Gudes of sexually harassing his former aide, and also accuses the District 5 councilman of making homophobic comments about Mayor Jane Castor.

Earlier this year, an independent law firm concluded that 18 such allegations against Gudes were likely to be credible. Gudes stepped down as council chairman in late March, but remains on the board. He has denied the allegations. "Everyone has their day, when they're vindicated," Gudes said in late March, when he stepped down as council chairman. "I'm waiting for that day. It will happen," he said.

An attorney for Gudes has denied all the allegations, and said his client apologized for any words that might have caused his aide discomfort.

photo: City of Tampa


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