Murrieta City Council removes Harry Ramos as mayor

MURRIETA, Calif. (KABC) -- The Murrieta City Council unanimously approved Thursday to remove Harry Ramos as mayor after a report detailed code of ethics violations.

Ramos, who is also facing allegations of sexual harassment, will remain on the city council. His removal stems from an internal, independent probe claiming at least 13 violations ranging from abuse of power to sexual assault.

During the council meeting, members discussed possible disciplinary action regarding the details of the report. Ramos spoke for about 15 minutes and called the report "unfair."

"You read the tone of it and, in my opinion, some of it was unprofessional on the part of the investigator. But in fairness, he never got to engage me or hear anything on my side, so it was pretty one-sided," he said during an interview with Eyewitness News.

He then left the meeting under the advice of his attorney.

Several residents also spoke out during public comment, with many divided on the situation.

Both the city of Murrieta and Ramos are being sued over allegations that he sexually assaulted a mother of three at a public event in January.

But it was not just those allegations that resulted in Ramos' removal. According to an independent report, there are six other allegations of either inappropriate comments or improper advances that Ramos made toward women.

The report also states Ramos abused his power as Mayor. In one example, Ramos is suspected of trying to use his position to get his wife out of a traffic ticket.

After the council unanimously voted to remove him as mayor, they also voted that he is no longer allowed to leave the city limits on official business.

But while some people were glad Ramos is no longer mayor, other said the whole thing was a witch hunt.

"He's accused of the sexual harassment at a mixer where there's potential political enemies at. First of all, why would he do that? Second of all, no one said anything for six months and suddenly it appeared? It just seems unlikely to me," one resident said.

As for the sexual assault allegations, the suspected victim filed a police report shortly after a news conference she held at Murrieta City Hall in July. The Riverside County District Attorney's Office confirmed it is looking into it.