Melville House Books

Samantha Francis – David Davidar‘s former personal assistant at Penguin — has once again stepped forward to issue a statement of support for Lisa Rundle in her sexual harassment case against Davidar, by denying claims made by Davidar in his most recent statement (see the story from yesterday’s MobyLives).

This time, Francis spoke not through an attorney, but directly to the press — saying, while she was at it, that she had nonetheless engaged an attorney to represent her: none other than Bobbi Olsen, who happens to be Rundle’s lawyer.

According to a report in the Globe and Mail, “Ms. Francis disputed Mr. Davidar’s version of the events” — that is, that his relationship with Rundle was “consensual,” and that Francis had withdrawn her own charges against Davidar — “but declined further comment.”

She simply tells the paper, “I think there’s a lot implied in the fact that I’ve supported Lisa.â€