Former San Diego Mayoral Hopeful Denies Allegedly Masturbating At City Hall

Former San Diego mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio speaks at news conference to announce a recall effort aimed at removing current San Diego Mayor Bob Filner on Monday, Aug. 19, 2013 in San Diego.
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Carl DeMaio, a former San Diego city councilman and current Republican congressional candidate, dismissed a news report that alleged he had been seen masturbating in a men’s room after leaving council meetings as “disgusting, humiliating and nothing more than a character assassination attempt.”

“In politics, you see people make accusations all the time. And you know, I’ve had people criticize me before and I usually let it roll off my back,” DeMaio told San Diego’s KNSD in an interview published Wednesday. “But this one crosses the line. It’s so gross. It’s so false, that I have to speak out. I have to present the truth.”

The Voice of OC reported late last week on allegations that DeMaio had been seen masturbating in the men’s room in City Hall on at least two occasions, quoting former City Councilman Ben Hueso.

DeMaio provided KNSD with the results of a polygraph test taken on Aug. 26, in which the polygraph examiner concluded the “subject was not attempting deception” when he answered “no” to whether he recalled masturbating in the City Hall men’s room when Hueso came in or if Hueso ever saw DeMaio masturbate.

Hueso’s office told KNSD that he stands by the statements in the Voice of OC article, while attorney Robert Ottlie has sent a letter to the Voice of OC on DeMaio’s behalf demanding a correction.  

DeMaio lost a mayoral runoff to outgoing Mayor Bob Filner, who plans to resign after being accused of inappropriate behavior by at least 18 women, in November. DeMaio hasn’t ruled out running for the office again, according to San Diego’s KGTV.

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