Raising his profile and flirting with the idea of a presidential bid, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has just received unwanted publicity with news that the company he founded is being sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for discriminating against pregnant women.

And it's not the first time Bloomberg has been in trouble. In 1997, he was sued by a sales executive who said that after she became pregnant, Mr. Bloomberg urged her to have an abortion, telling her to "kill it!" She also alleged that she and other female employees were subjected to unwelcome sexual comments and overtures by Mr. Bloomberg and his male executives, including one allegation that man who would be mayor asked her if she was still dating her boyfriend and if she was "giving him good" oral sex. Bloomberg denied the allegations and settled the case for an undisclosed amount.

The company says the new case is without merit and has made it clear it clear that it will fight it.

As for Bloomberg himself, he says he knows nothing about it. "You'll have to talk to Bloomberg LP. I haven't worked there, as you know, in an awful long time," he said, reports the International Herald Tribune.

True, but he remains the majority owner of the firm.

If there is a presidential bid, he might have to do a lot of work with women voters.