The San Diego City Council has decided to sue Mayor Bob Filner over any costs the city may incur over the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by his former communications director.

The council's unanimous vote Tuesday came hours before the nine-member board takes up Filner's request to have San Diego taxpayers pay his legal fees in the case.

"This is part of due process," City Attorney Jan Goldsmith said. "If Bob Filner engaged in unlawful conduct and the city is held liable, he will have to reimburse us every penny the city pays and its attorney fees."

The dispute over legal costs comes as a recall effort against Filner, who is accused by seven women of behavior such as groping, unwanted kissing and sexual advances, began in earnest Monday.

Irene McCormack Jackson, Filner's former aide, filed suit against the mayor and the city last week alleging, among other things, that the mayor told her he wanted to see her naked and asked her to work without wearing underwear.

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Filner apologized for his behavior and said he would undergo "intensive therapy" for two weeks starting Aug. 5. The former Democratic congressman, who was elected to the city post in November, has rejected repeated calls to resign.

Seven of the nine San Diego City Council members have called on Filner to step down. Resignation calls have also come from top Democrats such as Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the state's senior senator, and national party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Todd Gloria, president of the San Diego City Council, said before the council's action that it would send the wrong message to taxpayers if the city paid Filner's legal bills.

"This is about personal behavior," Gloria said Monday, according to U-T San Diego. "We certainly provide defenses to city employees who have been caught up in legal issues as a result of their day-to-day work, but obviously sexual harassment is not tolerated in the city. It's not necessary for the conduct of your work."

Filner has hired a private attorney, Harvey Berger, to defend him in the lawsuit. The city attorney's office is not representing Filner because the city is also a party to the lawsuit.

Filner is the first Democratic mayor of the nation's eighth most populous city in 20 years.

Contributing: Associated Press

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