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Ex-DeMaio Staffer: Official Alleging Harassment Not Fired For Plagiarism

10.24.14 | 6:16 pm

California Republican Congressional candidate Carl DeMaio pauses while speaking at his campaign headquarters, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014, in San Diego. The race for a San Diego congressional seat already was one of the c... California Republican Congressional candidate Carl DeMaio pauses while speaking at his campaign headquarters, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014, in San Diego. The race for a San Diego congressional seat already was one of the closest and most expensive in the country. In recent weeks, it also has taken a number bizarre twists that have nothing to do with disagreements about health care reform or federal spending. The Republican challenger, former city councilman Carl DeMaio, has been at the center of multiheaded controversy about his campaign. It includes a late-night break-in at his headquarters, a stolen campaign playbook that ended up in the hands of his opponent and sexual harassment accusations made against the candidate by a fired staffer who, like DeMaio, is gay. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) MORE LESS

The former deputy campaign manager for Republican congressional candidate Carl DeMaio (CA) said that, contrary to claims from the DeMaio campaign, former staffer Todd Bosnich was not fired for plagiarism.

“I worked at the Carl DeMaio campaign as the Deputy Campaign Manager in May 2014 and can confirm Todd was not fired for plagiarism,” Alison Rentschler, the former campaign manager, said in a statement to San Diego City Beat. “Carl was very involved with the report and referred to it as his ‘baby.’ I know Todd, he is an honest and trustworthy person.”

That refutation by Rentschler strongly conflicts with claims by the DeMaio campaign that Bosnich was fired for plagiarizing a report concerning pensions.

City Beat said the DeMaio (pictured) campaign had over a day to respond but they didn’t.

Bosnich is the former staffer who has said DeMaio sexually harassed him and tried to keep him quiet about it by offering $50,000 if Bosnich signed a non-disclosure agreement. DeMaio has denied that accusation.

Rentschler said she couldn’t say any more as she is “currently a cooperating witness” in an investigation by the FBI over threats made against Bosnich.

City Beat noted that Bosnich has also produced emails that reinforce his claim that he was fired on the same day he said he was offered $50,000.

DeMaio is the Republican nominee for Congress running to defeat Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA).

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occamsrazor2 says:

October 24, 2014

Any recent polling on this race?
Diogenes67 says:

October 24, 2014

Any bets that this story won’t appear in the UT, formerly the San Diego Union Tribune? The paper’s publisher, who prefers to be called “Papa” Doug Manchester is one of DeMaio’s biggest financial backers and his paper seems to run editorials endorsing DeMaio’s election almost daily.
antisachetdethe says:

October 24, 2014

“Papa” = Too old and out of shape to be called “Daddy”
ottnott says:

October 24, 2014

Diogenes67:

The paper’s publisher, who prefers to be called “Papa” Doug Manchester is one of DeMaio’s biggest financial backers

Manchester owns one of the biggest shares of DeMaio. Probably wants someone in Congress to push for loosing the Navy’s hold on some SD waterfront Manchester would like to develop.
doninsd says:

October 24, 2014

DeMaio is a petty, shallow, vindictive, proven liar. He damages the gay community by acting the negative stereotype.