Millennial ex-mayor of upscale Hamptons village accused of exploiting staff for political voting: lawsuit

The former millennial mayor of Southampton Village is allegedly a tyrannical jerk who tried to trick his secretary for political gain, a bombshell new lawsuit says.

Jesse Warren – the owner of a luxury boutique in the elite enclave who previously made headlines for being evicted from his home by a political rival – is now facing explosive claims from his former employee Miranda Weber.

“Warren regularly had violent outbursts, made inappropriate and gender-inappropriate comments, and intervened in Ms. Weber’s personal life,” says her lawsuit in Suffolk County Superior Court, which she filed late last month.

Warren — the city's youngest mayor, who was just 36 when he was elected in 2019 — allegedly harassed, discriminated against and retaliated against Weber, including by asking her to work while doing shiva for her beloved grandmother sits, the file says.

He also tried to force Weber, who was in her mid-20s at the time, “into a quid pro quo relationship with the trustee to secure a political favor” – forcing her to make up excuses, including that she had COVID, to get his to avoid advances, the lawsuit says.

According to court documents, Warren even threatened to “deny a promotion and raise if she did not comply with his various demands.”

And when Weber resigned in 2022 after enduring a year and a half of “insidious harassment, discrimination and retaliation” from her boss, he refused to pay her at least $40,000 — and perhaps as much as $90,000 — for overtime The lawsuit alleges that pay for work weeks often exceeds 50 hours.

Warren, 39, who made headlines last year when a former mayor bought the building where he lived and then evicted him, declined to comment.

The Millennial manager is well aware of the allegations, having leaked a confidential letter to the press when Weber tried to resolve her claims privately last year, a move that was criticized by village officials as endangering taxpayers, according to local reports.

Warren was ousted by his former running mate in the village's mayoral election this summer. Since losing re-election, he has remained active in local politics, denouncing the new village government over expensive raises and patronage jobs, in addition to alleged possible violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

Weber's lawsuit also names the Village of Southampton, a tiny community that covers about six square miles on Long Island's East End, and accuses trustees and other officials of not doing enough to prevent its mistreatment.

Current Mayor Bill Manger told The Post that Southampton Village trustees were “concerned” about the lawsuit but declined further comment.

The lawsuit alleges that the former mayor encouraged “discriminatory hostilities toward female employees,” with Weber alleging that unusually intimidating behavior toward her was not shared with the men in the office, including low pay and intrusions into her private life.

The lawsuit says Warren made extraordinary demands on her schedule and time, including sending work-related emails while mourning her late grandmother.

Another time, according to her lawsuit, he “threw a tantrum” when Weber was called for jury duty.

Weber also accuses Warren of pressuring her to enter into a relationship with a village trustee, Joseph McLoughlin, because his vote was apparently crucial to her getting a raise, the lawsuit says.

But the mayor at the time was actually seeking McLoughlin's support of a critical vote on the police chief's contract, the lawsuit says.

Warren repeatedly “ordered” his secretary to meet with McLoughlin in 2021, “told Ms. Weber that Trustee McLoughlin really liked women, especially young women,” and repeatedly mentioned to his young secretary that “McLoughlin liked her.”

The insidious nature of social pressure became clear when “[Warren] told [Weber] She asked the trustee about the police chief's contract, emphasizing that it was important to “us,” and asked her to “check in” with the trustee every few days or so.

“[Warren] forced Ms. Weber to meet with her harasser as an apparent condition of receiving a raise, thereby refusing to protect her from sexual harassment,” the lawsuit says.

As Weber and McLoughlin — who is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit and did not respond to multiple requests for comment — interacted, “he commented that she had been working too hard and suggested they go out for drinks sometime.” “

Uncomfortable with his advances, Weber made up excuses, such as that COVID-19 was “terrible,” and rushed home.

On another occasion, when Weber was asked to discuss her upcoming raise with McLoughlin, he replied that the two should discuss things further over drinks or at a steakhouse.

Weber was “shocked and uncomfortable” when the trustee asked her out again and tried to end the conversation by saying she was a vegetarian.

“His response was to double the invitation,” the lawsuit says, “indicating that she was ordering sushi.”

When Weber's raise – in the form of an $8,000 annual stipend – finally came to a vote a year later, McLoughlin incredulously claimed he had never heard of it before, publicly suggested “something inappropriate about the stipend” and voted against it the increase suing states.

When no one reprimanded McLoughlin for discussing personnel matters in the public meeting, Weber burst into tears, her lawsuit says.

She resigned a month later.

One Southampton resident described the allegations against McLoughlin as “ridiculous”.

“He's a nice guy, he's disabled,” the source said, referring to the fact that McLoughlin – who was recently convicted of ethics violations related to a police badge of honor – has suffered from cerebral palsy his entire life.

Other village insiders, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation in the small town, also raised doubts about the other allegations in the lawsuit.

“You can stop vilifying the ex-mayor,” said one resident. “Everyone has to move on.”

Many of Weber's claims were echoed in an earlier and quickly dismissed lawsuit filed in 2023 by former village manager Charlene Kagel-Betts. She claimed she observed Warren's bully tactics against Weber, who was not named in the lawsuit.

Kagel-Betts retired in February and accused Warren of “destructive” behavior in a condemning letter in which he also accused him of mental instability and “a pathological liar.”

Weber did not respond to a message left on her phone. Her attorney declined to comment on the lawsuit or provide any explanation as to why the lawsuit lacks a signed affidavit and exhibits or why the defendants have not yet been served.