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| Elton John denies sexual harassment claims from LAPD officer | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Sir Elton John has denied claims he repeatedly groped a police officer who served in his security team. | Sir Elton John has denied claims he repeatedly groped a police officer who served in his security team. |
| Jeffrey Wenninger, a captain in the Los Angeles police department (LAPD), has accused the singer of groping him and making sexually suggestive comments. | Jeffrey Wenninger, a captain in the Los Angeles police department (LAPD), has accused the singer of groping him and making sexually suggestive comments. |
| In legal papers filed in the US on Monday, the officer said he received unwelcome attention from the married star in 2014. | In legal papers filed in the US on Monday, the officer said he received unwelcome attention from the married star in 2014. |
| John issued a strong denial, saying the allegations were driven by money. | |
| Orin Snyder, a US lawyer representing John’s company, Rocket Entertainment Group, said: “This baseless lawsuit is brought by a disgruntled former security officer seeking to extract an undeserved payment. | Orin Snyder, a US lawyer representing John’s company, Rocket Entertainment Group, said: “This baseless lawsuit is brought by a disgruntled former security officer seeking to extract an undeserved payment. |
| “These claims are patently untrue and contradicted by numerous previous statements made by this plaintiff. We will not give in to his latest abuse of the legal system.” | “These claims are patently untrue and contradicted by numerous previous statements made by this plaintiff. We will not give in to his latest abuse of the legal system.” |
| In the papers Wenninger said he had received unwelcome attention on several occasions over several years since he began working on John’s security team in 2002. | In the papers Wenninger said he had received unwelcome attention on several occasions over several years since he began working on John’s security team in 2002. |
| The incidents escalated “in frequency and intensity” after 2010, the lawsuit states, adding: “At no time did plaintiff consent to defendant Elton John touching him in this offensive manner, or in any other manner.” | The incidents escalated “in frequency and intensity” after 2010, the lawsuit states, adding: “At no time did plaintiff consent to defendant Elton John touching him in this offensive manner, or in any other manner.” |
| The police officer worked for John while off-duty through a private company that he has also launched legal action against, alleging he was improperly removed from working with the singer in September 2014. | The police officer worked for John while off-duty through a private company that he has also launched legal action against, alleging he was improperly removed from working with the singer in September 2014. |
| According to Wenninger, who was awarded the LAPD’s Medal of Valour, he was effectively fired from John’s security detail because he had reported a fellow officer for overtime theft. | According to Wenninger, who was awarded the LAPD’s Medal of Valour, he was effectively fired from John’s security detail because he had reported a fellow officer for overtime theft. |
| Marla Brown, a lawyer acting for the officer, refused to address why her client would be seeking work after the alleged incidents occurred. | Marla Brown, a lawyer acting for the officer, refused to address why her client would be seeking work after the alleged incidents occurred. |