NYC Councilman Charged With Raping Woman
Published: 8/3/07, 11:25 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) - A city councilman was arraigned Friday on charges that he raped and assaulted a woman in his office just hours after they met in a bar.
Councilman Dennis Gallagher, a married father of two, turned himself in after a grand jury came back with the 10-count indictment on rape and assault charges. In testimony before the grand jury this week, he acknowledged an encounter with the 52-year-old woman but said it was consensual.
"He concedes that it was morally bad conduct on his part, but he absolutely and vehemently denies any criminal wrongdoing," said his lawyer, Stephen R. Mahler.
The woman alleged that after the July 8 meeting in the bar, he offered to drive her home but instead took her to his district office and attacked her.
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