Another former staffer of Carl DeMaio’s congressional campaign has gone on the record with KPBS with an explosive allegation.
Justin Harper said DeMaio inappropriately exposed himself to Harper in the bathroom of the campaign’s headquarters. 10News also ran with the allegations, noting that they’d been trying to get Harper on the record for more than a week before he finally decided to allow his name to be used. (A side dispute over a urinal has now emerged, because of course. The accuser apparently claims it was 10News that got that detail wrong.)
The first former staffer to accuse DeMaio of sexual harassment, Todd Bosnich, pushed Harper to come out and leaked his name on Twitter before Harper said he was comfortable.
Here’s the U-T’s version. DeMaio’s campaign swiftly dismissed Harper’s story. A spokesman pointed to the fact that the district attorney declined to charge DeMaio with criminal sexual harassment and alleged that this was a large conspiracy of people the campaign accused of breaking into his office. (The DA also declined to charge Bosnich or anyone with breaking in to DeMaio campaign HQ). Speaking of the break-in, when Scott Lewis asked DeMaio’s team whether they were saying Harper was also someone who had been fired by the campaign, the spokesman responded bizarrely by sending a police report from the office break-in.
If you are having trouble following it all (I don’t blame you), try our timeline of the weird statements leading up to the second accuser coming forward.
Before the new allegations dropped, a poll found DeMaio with a slim lead in the race. (10News)
The Non-52nd Races
The race between Peters and DeMaio is certainly the weirdest, closest and most explosive race happening Tuesday. But it’s not the only one.
Caty Green made this handy roundup of the races and measures we’ve covered over the past few months, including a snapshot of each statewide ballot measure.
• Speaking of statewide ballot measures, one has revealed a rift between San Diego’s current police chief, and its most recent former one. Prop. 47 reduces penalties for non-serious, non-violent drug and property crimes. It was co-written by former SDPD Chief Bill Lansdowne, but current Chief Shelley Zimmerman has spoken out against the measure.
Our editorial intern Michelle Monroy spoke to both chiefs to flesh out their views on the measure.
The Podcast
If you’re not listening to our weekly podcast, you should consider subscribing. This week, Scott Lewis talks to U-T Editor Jeff Light.
Quick News Hits
• It was an eclectic cast of characters in town this weekend: Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and talk show host-turned-veterans advocate Montel Williams were at Brown Field to escort the Marine who was released from a Mexican jail, while Vice President Joe Biden was in town stumping for Peters. (AP and NBC San Diego)
• San Diego City Councilwoman Marti Emerald was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She got married this weekend and she shaved her head. That last part was in solidarity with the events around breast cancer awareness. The U-T has a good photo.
• Police in Santa Ana have made arrests in the devastating case of a Halloween hit-and-run that left three teenage girls dead. That means the case might buck the trend Mario Koran discovered: that perpetrators of hit-and-runs are rarely ever caught. (City News Service)
• It’s time to monitor your sprinklers. Mandatory water restrictions are now in effect. (City News Service)