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Lawyers for a prosecutor fired by ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell in 2019 will have another shot next week to get answers about sexual activities taking place in that office.

A deposition has been set for Tuesday in front of lawyers for Susan Petersen, who alleges in a discrimination suit that she was fired by Bell because of her age, race and gender.

Although the name of the person refusing to answer questions was redacted from court files in the case, one of Bell’s political opponents — former state legislator Maria Chappelle-Nadal — has maintained that it is Bell himself who was having sexual relations with subordinates in his office.

Chappelle-Nadal’s claim was given credence Tuesday, when a filing was added to the court record.

The filing shows that Bell sat for a deposition with Petersen’s lawyers on Jan. 29. No other filings indicate that any other depositions were taken on that date by Petersen’s lawyers.

Bell’s office said it does not comment on pending litigation.

Petersen’s case is set to go before a jury on April 15. Four days has been set aside to try the case, court records show. A pretrial conference is set for April 5.

The County Counselor’s office tried to delay the trial, but that move was turned back last week by Circuit Judge Bruce F. Hilton.

The new deposition set to take place Tuesday also is the result of a decision made last week by Hilton, who agreed with Petersen’s attorneys that the deposed party should answer the questions that were dodged in January.

Back when the Jan. 29 deposition was taken, Petersen’s lawyers asked the deposed party if he “had ever been involved in sexual relationships with any employees,� and asked about specific employees.

The deposed party refused to answer the questions on advice from county attorneys, who argued the questions were “highly prejudicial� and do not prove anything in the case.

Petersen’s attorneys countered that the questions are pertinent to their client’s case, in that they may illustrate the redacted party’s “attitude toward and general treatment of women in the workplace.�

Petersen’s side further argued that the redacted party engaging in “intimate relationships with his female subordinates would make it more probable that (he) would use his power ... to treat other women in the office, including (Petersen), in a disrespectful and demeaning manner ....�

In a hearing held behind closed doors, Hilton apparently agreed with Petersen’s lawyers and ruled that the deposed party had to return for more questioning.

Chappelle-Nadal’s criticism of Bell comes during their shared campaign against U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a two-term incumbent, in the Democratic primary in August. All three are vying for Bush’s congressional seat that covers ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and parts of north and west ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ County.

Petersen, who worked as a county prosecutor for 21 years, filed her discrimination suit against ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ County in October 2020.