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Last-minute allegation roils campaign

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Less than 48 hours before Election Day, a second former campaign worker for Carl DeMaio is contending the congressional candidate acted in a sexually inappropriate manner.

A DeMaio spokesman called the claim “an outrageous lie” and said that, according to a KPBS report, the campaign manager for DeMaio’s opponent, Democratic Rep. Scott Peters, had a role in helping surface the new allegation.

The former aide, Justin Harper, told U-T San Diego Sunday evening that in July he was in a restroom and noticed DeMaio behind him, turned around and saw DeMaio holding his exposed genitals.

Harper, a Navy veteran, said he was shocked and quickly exited. No one else was present.

“No words were spoken — I just left the room,” Harper said of the incident he claims occurred on July 10 at the Miramar building housing the Republican candidate’s campaign headquarters.

He said he quit the campaign two days later and did not file a police report.

The DeMaio camp blamed Peters for a “smear campaign.”

“By resurrecting this outrageous lie in the last 48 hours of the campaign, Scott Peters has sunk to a new low,” DeMaio spokesman Dave McCulloch said.

McCulloch said that Peters’ campaign manager, MaryAnn Pintar, is coordinating with Harper and the first person to accuse DeMaio of sexual harassment, former policy director Todd Bosnich. DeMaio also vehemently denies any misconduct with Bosnich.

KPBS, which first reported the new accusation Sunday afternoon, said Harper recently sent an email to the Peters campaign in which he said he was “reaching out because of the incident that happened to me.”

An email chain showed that Pintar forwarded Harper’s email to Bosnich, who on Thursday referred to Harper’s claim on Twitter. Pintar told KPBS that she forwarded the email because she was “concerned about this young man.”

Peters’ spokesman Alex Roth rejected the notion that the Democrat’s campaign was behind the latest accusation.

“It is a false and egregious lie to suggest our campaign is to blame for the Filner-esque mess Mr. DeMaio has created,” he said, referring to former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, who resigned in a sexual harassment scandal. “Both of DeMaio’s accusers worked for his campaign, both are loyal Republicans. These are serious charges and there are victims. Carl needs to stop placing blame on others and take responsibility for his actions.”

The landlord of the building told KPBS the urinal wasn’t operational when Harper said the incident happened. KPBS also reported the landlord has contributed money to DeMaio’s campaign.

Harper joined the DeMaio effort earlier in the year as an intern and eventually made his way onto the paid staff as one of dozens of regional political directors responsible for efforts in individual neighborhoods.

“He was a hero of mine,” Harper said of DeMaio. “But all that’s changed.”

Last month, the District Attorney’s Office said there was insufficient evidence to file charges regarding Bosnich’s claim of sexual harassment, or a May break-in of DeMaio headquarters. DeMaio has accused Bosnich of the break-in and maintains the former aide made up the sexual harassment accusation to divert attention.

DeMaio has scheduled a news conference for noon Monday to deliver what his campaign calls a "closing statement."

An earlier version of this story said there was a conflict in the story that Harper told 10News and KPBS. The original 10News story said Harper told it that he was in a bathroom stall and not at the urinal. Harper has since clarified to state he was at the urinal.

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