Fact check: Carl Demaio got caught masturbating in public

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal that Carl DeMaio faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, but the specific claim of "public masturbation" requires important clarification. The sources document several distinct allegations:

• Former City Councilmember Ben Hueso alleged in 2009 that DeMaio would regularly excuse himself from Council Chambers to masturbate in the bathroom ^[1]
• Campaign staffer Todd Bosnich claimed that DeMaio masturbated in front of him ^[2]
• Campaign staffer Justin Harper alleged that DeMaio exposed himself to him in a restroom, though this was described as exposure rather than masturbation ^[3]

DeMaio consistently denied these allegations and claimed to have passed a polygraph test ^[1]. His campaign characterized the accusations as "false smears" ^[4].

Crucially, Todd Bosnich, one of the key accusers, was later sentenced to five years' probation for lying to federal investigators about a threatening email he wrote related to his sexual harassment allegations against DeMaio ^{[5] [6]}. Bosnich pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for sending a threatening email to himself and lying to the FBI about it ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement lacks several critical pieces of context:

• The allegations were made in specific settings - primarily in restrooms or private spaces, not necessarily "in public" as commonly understood ^{[1] [3]}
• The credibility of key accusers is questionable - Todd Bosnich was convicted of lying to federal investigators specifically about matters related to his allegations against DeMaio ^{[5] [6]}
• DeMaio's denials and claimed polygraph test are not mentioned in the original statement ^[1]
• The political context is missing - these allegations emerged during DeMaio's congressional campaign, suggesting potential political motivations ^[3]

Political opponents and media outlets would benefit from accepting the allegations at face value, as they could damage DeMaio's political career. Conversely, DeMaio and his supporters would benefit from emphasizing the credibility issues with accusers like Bosnich and the lack of concrete evidence.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement contains several potentially misleading elements:

• "Got caught" implies definitive proof or evidence, but the sources only document unproven allegations ^{[3] [2] [1]}
• "In public" may be misleading - the allegations primarily involve restroom incidents, which while technically in public buildings, were in private bathroom settings ^{[1] [3]}
• The statement presents allegations as established fact without acknowledging they remain disputed and that key accusers have credibility issues ^{[5] [6]}
• No mention of DeMaio's denials creates a one-sided narrative that ignores his consistent refutations and claimed polygraph test ^[1]

The phrasing suggests certainty about events that remain allegations, particularly given that one of the primary accusers was later convicted of lying to federal investigators about related matters.