SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Protesters gathered outside a fundraiser held in Carl DeMaio's honor Saturday -- one day after the congressional candidate was accused of sexual harassment.
A former campaign staffer came forward saying DeMaio repeatedly harassed him.
Saturday, dozens of people, including House Speaker John Boehner, gathered for a fundraiser for DeMaio. Protesters were there too and say the accusations are even more of a reason for why DeMaio should not be elected.
Arriving and leaving separately to this private fundraiser in Pacific Beach Saturday -- our camera caught just a short glimpse of both House Speaker John Boehner and congressional candidate Carl DeMaio.
"Carl DeMaio is not what he says. His behaviors are inappropriate and he should absolutely not be a member of congress," said Jess Durfee.
Outside, a small group of protesters gathered peacefully. Some explained they've been against DeMaio, long before the recent sexual harassment claims were made against him. But that those claims do fuel their stance.
"I think if he would do that with staff, if it's true, you don't someone like that in congress," said Joanne Climie.
On Friday, DeMaio's former campaign staffer Todd Bosnich told CNN -- DeMaio, an openly gay Republican, had repeatedly sexually harassed him.
He claims DeMaio would try to corner him alone and in one case, invited him into his back office where he was allegedly masturbating.
"I saw his penis in his hand, and he had a smile on his face and as soon as I came in he was looking at me," Bosnich said.
Bosnich, who is also openly gay, says the harassment went on for months and included DeMaio massaging him, kissing his neck and groping him.
He alleges after confronting DeMaio, he was fired from the campaign and offered $50,000 in exchange for signing a nondisclosure agreement, which he refused.
"I took it as an attempt to bribe me to keep my silence," Bosnich said.
DeMaio meanwhile fired back earlier this week. He denied Bosnich's allegations and countered Bosnich was let go because he plagiarized a report from a national journal.
He also identified Bosnich as a prime suspect in a break-in at the DaMaio campaign office shortly after his termination.
"He is clearly troubled -- he got caught for the damage he did to the campaign, and now he is manufacturing a cover story to explain the ways of his actions," DeMaio said.
Attendees who paid $1,000 to attend Saturday's fundraiser say DeMaio briefly mentioned the allegations.
"He minimized it, let me put it that way. It wasn't that important," one man said.
Adding, the complaints do nothing to alter their support, "I don't listen to the cheap shots."
At this point, no charges against DeMaio have been filed. Demaio supporters estimate there were about 70 people at Saturday's fundraiser.
A spokesperson for the DeMaio campaign released this statement, "Because congressman Scott Peters is worth $100 million and has the backing of Wall Street PACs, partisan political opponents are just manufacturing drama 25 days before the election to disrupt our efforts to raise the resources we need to get Carl's positive message out."