Hedge fund titan and Kamala Harris fundraiser Mark Lasseri has been accused of sexual harassment by a former executive he claims was trying to extort him for $50 million.
Hedge fund honcho Marc Lassory has been accused of sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed by a former executive at his firm — less than a week after the billionaire filed his own complaint claiming she was trying to extort him for $50 million.
Lasseri — co-founder of Avenue Capital Group and a major fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris — allegedly forcibly kissed and groped Gina Straum, according to her complaint filed Wednesday in New York state court.
“Lasri is a victim of sexual abuse [Gina] Strum on a continuous basis during his employment,” the lawsuit alleges.
Strum, who worked in business development at Avenue from 2009 to 2013, sued Lacy for discrimination and retaliation. The complaint alleges discrimination against Lassory's sister and Avenue co-founder Sonia Gardner.
Lasry and Avenue filed suit against Strum last Friday, seeking $50 million to stop him from smearing her and the firm.
“Ms. Strum's desperate attempt to claim that Mr. Lasseri acted inappropriately and sexually harassed her is completely untrue,” an Avenue spokesperson told the Post Thursday.
“Avenue filed a defamation suit against him on October 18. They refused to pay his extortion. Her claim, filed yesterday, also contains statements that are defamatory and false. Mr. Lasry, and Avenue will respond to Ms. Strum's false defamatory statements and defend their reputations to the fullest extent of the law,” the representative added.
Daniel Kaiser, one of Strum's lawyers, claims Lassory filed his lawsuit in a premeditated attempt to silence his client.
Lassory, 65, who is married and has five children, claims Strum's alleged threats began only after he left the firm.
He received a severance package for an undisclosed sum and has continued to serve as a consultant to Avenue for the past decade, according to Lasry's lawsuit.
Strum's countersuit alleges that Lasseri began sexually harassing her shortly after she was hired and continued throughout the year while she was a consultant at the firm.
“Larry made it clear to Strum that he wanted both a romantic and sexual relationship with Lassory, even though she was married,” the complaint alleges.
Strum was “horrified” by Lasry's request and immediately turned him down, his lawsuit alleges.
But that didn't deter Lasry, the former owner of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks.
“Throughout her employment, Lassory frequently forced Strum to hug Lassry against her will and without her consent so that he could press against her breasts and hug her,” the lawsuit alleges.
Lasry paints a different picture in his case
She alleged that Straum sent her inappropriate emails and texts, including one saying, “You're a lovebug to me.”
The mogul has been raising money for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, including hosting a Zoom call in July to rally financial support among Wall Street bigwigs.