Carl DeMaio’s response to mounting questions about serious sexual harassment allegations regarding a former campaign staffer is only raising more concerns. So for 5 days, as San Diegans continue to grapple with another Bob Filner-esque scandal, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is highlighting the top 5 questions Carl DeMaio has left unanswered.
Today’s Question: Why has DeMaio’s key political ally – San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis – refused to recuse herself from these investigations?
From Tyrone Gayle, DCCC: “As a key political ally to Carl DeMaio, San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has a glaring conflict of interest and should immediately recuse herself from these ongoing investigations.”
BACKGROUND:
Headline: The Cops Stay Quiet and the DA Faces Another Political Conflict [Voice of San Diego, 10/09/14]
Headline: Should DA handle DeMaio break-in? [Union-Tribune, 10/09/14]
Letter Sent to AG Kamala Harris Requesting Dumanis Recuse Herself from Handling of Sexual Harassment Investigation. “I am writing to ask your office to assume responsibility for two investigations, both involving Carl DeMaio of San Diego. Mr. DeMaio is currently a candidate for the US House of Representatives. He has been accused by the former policy director of his campaign staff of sexual harassment – stemming from a number of specific incidents. These incidents were described in an interview given by the former staffer to a radio host and are referenced in an article posted by Politico on Wednesday, October 8, 2014.” [Jess Durfee letter, 10/10/14; Roll Call, 10/10/14]
October 2012: DeMaio was Endorsed by Dumanis in 2012 Mayoral Run. [Fox 5 San Diego, 10/30/12; Union-Tribune, 10/09/14
April 2013: DeMaio Held a Fundraiser for Bonnie Dumanis. In April 2013, DeMaio held a $250 per head fundraiser for District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis for her re-election campaign. [Dumanis fundraiser,4/30/13; Roll Call,10/10/14]
April 2014: DeMaio Campaigned with Dumanis, Advocated for her Re-Election, and Praised her Work in the D.A.’s Office. DeMaio: Also, we are joined tonight by District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. And her election should be done in June. I think it will be done in June. I think she’s gonna have an outstanding result. But you are looking at someone who took over a District Attorney’s Office when it was a complete state of mess and she rebuilt it brick by brick, restoring integrity, has an amazing conviction rate and she is a leader statewide on a number of law enforcement issues. She is a great voice on those issues statewide. And so I can’t think of any reason why we wouldn’t want to resoundingly elect her. So please do what you can for Bonnie. [Downtown Republican Women monthly meeting, 25:11, 4/17/14]
DeMaio: Dumanis “Restor[ed] Integrity” to D.A.’s Office and “has an Amazing Conviction Rate.” DeMaio: Also, we are joined tonight by District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. And her election should be done in June. I think it will be done in June. I think she’s gonna have an outstanding result. But you are looking at someone who took over a District Attorney’s Office when it was a complete state of mess and she rebuilt it brick by brick, restoring integrity, has an amazing conviction rate and she is a leader statewide on a number of law enforcement issues. She is a great voice on those issues statewide. And so I can’t think of any reason why we wouldn’t want to resoundingly elect her. So please do what you can for Bonnie. [Downtown Republican Women monthly meeting, 25:11, 4/17/14]
Dumanis Recused Herself During then-Mayor Filner’s Criminal Prosecution for Sexual Harassment. “U-T Watchdog attended a Dumanis news conference on Thursday to ask about any potential conflict, and she declined to answer any questions. Her staff said her office would have no further comment about its handling of the DeMaio break-in and any allegations stemming from it… But Dumanis’s office doesn’t always handle such investigations. For instance, when former Mayor Bob Filner was accused of crimes stemming from sexual harassment allegations against him in 2013, Dumanis referred the case to the state Attorney General’s Office. She did not want the prosecution to be seen as a vendetta against Filner, as she had called him ‘disruptive, disrespectful and demeaning, especially to women’ during the mayoral campaign.” [Union-Tribune, 10/09/14]
Union –Tribune: Legal Ethics Expert Said Sexual Harassment Allegations could “Test [Dumanis’] Professional Judgment and her Loyalty to DeMaio.” “Arthur Margolis, a Los Angeles-based attorney and legal ethics expert, said Dumanis is unlikely to face any repercussions from the state bar for handling the break-in case. But, he added, ‘it could contaminate the case with unnecessary issues, and I think she has a duty to try to avoid that.’ Concerning the burglary, Margolis said, the connection between Dumanis and the case is one step removed. But regarding the former aide’s claims of harassment by DeMaio, reviewing those allegations could test her professional judgment and her loyalty to DeMaio, Margolis said.” [Union-Tribune, 10/09/14]
National Prosecution Standards: “A Prosecutor Should Not Hold an Interest or Engage in Activities… Likely to Create a Reasonable Appearance of Conflict.” “1-3.1 Conflict Avoidance A prosecutor should not hold an interest or engage in activities, financial or otherwise, that conflict, have a significant potential to conflict, or are likely to create a reasonable appearance of conflict with the duties and responsibilities of the prosecutor’s office.” [National District Attorneys Association, National Prosecution Standards, Third Edition]