'Major trouble': House GOP hopeful Carl DeMaio accused of sexual harassment [video]

https://twitter.com/NoahCRothman/status/520679014386896896

Processing what, exactly?

@NoahCRothman Don't leave us in suspense. What happened? @shiracenter

— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) October 10, 2014

@gabrielmalor Graphic accusation of sexual harassment by former staffer in on-camera interview.

— Brian Faughnan (@BrianFaughnan) October 10, 2014

Oh dear.

https://twitter.com/NoahCRothman/status/520679596539523072

From today’s edition of “The Lead”:

CNN has also posted a lengthy report on the allegations against openly gay GOP congressional candidate Carl DeMaio:

But behind the scenes, things are much messier. DeMaio’s former campaign policy director is accusing the candidate of sexual harassment, even saying DeMaio masturbated in front of him. DeMaio vehemently denies the allegations, saying they’re the cover story of a plagiarist and suspected criminal.

This is not the first time DeMaio has been accused of sexually inappropriate behavior. Last year, a fellow city councilman said he twice caught DeMaio masturbating in a city hall restroom — an allegation DeMaio denied.

Hold DeMaio http://t.co/tG3lRLus3o

— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) October 10, 2014

Well this has to be among the most NSFW scandals of the 2014 political season… http://t.co/f4JmlrcPM2 via @frates

— Vaughn Sterling (@vplus) October 10, 2014

https://twitter.com/Neal_Dewing/status/520683155729420291

And San Diego continues to stay classy. RT @katherinemiller: These are some serious accusations against DeMaio http://t.co/zVSDleZzQK

— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) October 10, 2014

Also against his accuser. RT @katherinemiller: These are some serious accusations against DeMaio http://t.co/iAP7z5908Y

— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) October 10, 2014

For the record, DeMaio denies the allegations:

“This is an individual that was let go by our campaign manager for plagiarism. A well-documented plagiarism incident of taking a report from the National Journal and passing it off as his own work,” DeMaio said. “He was terminated. He admitted that he plagiarized. He apologized for plagiarizing and when we told him he was no longer welcome in the staff and in the campaign office, even as a volunteer, he left. Days later, he broke in.”

In any event, it looks like DeMaio’s got a tough PR battle ahead.

“@baseballcrank: Hold DeMaio http://t.co/8SeYdwdZnG” yikes holy crap

— Heather Marie (@hfearny) October 10, 2014

Major trouble for GOP House candidate Carl DeMaio in #CA52. http://t.co/34jiVjANM6

— Chris Moody (@moody) October 10, 2014