(dpa) -
Rob Lowe was accused of sexual abuse by a nanny who once worked for The West
Wing actor and his wife.
Jessica Gibson, 24, on Tuesday accused Lowe of repeatedly exposing himself and
touching her while she worked for Lowe and his wife, Sheryl. In
response, Lowe's lawyers released letters from the actor's other employees who
vouched for his behaviour.
Gibson filed a lawsuit claiming he "placed his hand
inside Gibson's pants" several times and grabbed her buttocks without her
consent. Her comments on the Today television show came two days after
Lowe charged her with blackmail.
Gibson worked for the Lowes for seven years but denied that
the long stint contradicted her claims. "I love the children,"
she said. "I needed the job. I thought it would get better, and I was
scared."
But Lowe's estate manager, Carol Andrade, defended the actor
in a written declaration provided to Lowe's legal team and obtained by People
magazine: "Jessica never told me ... that Rob ever said or did anything
that she found inappropriate or offensive or that made her feel uncomfortable
... or made sexual advances toward her," wrote Andrade, who supervised the
Lowes' staff.
In another declaration, Jennifer Dynof, president of Lowe Profile, a company
owned by Lowe, also stated that she had never witnessed any questionable
behaviour by Lowe.
"[In the past four years working for Rob], I have never seen him make any
sexual advances toward any other woman or act inappropriately, offensively or
disrespectfully toward any woman," Dynof said.
Both employees added they would testify in court if need be, People reported.