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Ex-Lansing Mayor Faces Sexual Assault Lawsuit

WKAR FILE PHOTO

A woman who once interned for former Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero is suing him for sexual harassment and assault.

The lawsuit filed Monday in Ingham County claims Bernero made unwanted sexual comments and advances towards Liz Hart, who worked as a volunteer and a reelection campaign fundraiser in 2013 and 2014.

The Lansing State Journal reports the lawsuit details several occasions in which Bernero inappropriately touched Hart.

It also claims Bernero propositioned her and another former co-worker to a sexual tryst.

Hart is seeking at least $25,000 in damages.

The suit comes two months after Bernero dropped out of the 2021 Lansing mayoral race just before news outlet MLive.com published on the record accounts of Bernero’s alleged behavior towards Hart and her co-worker.

Kevin Lavery served as a general assignment reporter and occasional local host for Morning Edition and All Things Considered before retiring in 2023.
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