Smashed computer screens, cut computer cords and stolen gas gift cards were among the campaign office damages reported to police by California congressional candidate Carl DeMaio’s campaign staff around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to ABC 10 News.
Campaign staff for DeMaio reportedly arrived to work around 8:30 a.m. and discovered the damage. The office had been closed around 9 p.m. the previous evening. Reports suggested no signs of forced entry.
DeMaio campaign Communications Director David MuCulloch told the San Diego Union-Tribune, “It is clear this is not a random act of violence,” and “It’s an attempt to silence Carl.” No indication was reported as to who would have perpetuated the crime.
When asked about the suggestion that the break-in was an act of sabotage, a representative with the Peters campaign provided the following statement, “It’s a terrible crime, more than vandalism, it was theft. It’s in everyone’s interest to have the perpetrator caught and brought to justice.” The representative continued, “This is the kind of stuff people hate about politics.”
10 News reported, “There are questions about whether it might have been an inside job because of the entry point coming from an adjoining office and the fact that a file cabinet with files inside was untouched, while another was stripped of several hundred dollars worth of gasoline debit cards.”
However, that report went on to quote Carl DeMaio as saying, “We do get hundreds of volunteers, but the idea that somebody would have cased the joint or been involved, really is astounding.”
DeMaio is one of three candidates attempting to unseat current freshman Congressman Scott Peters, a Democrat. Peters won election to the House of Representatives in 2012, beating out incumbent Republican Congressman Brian Bilbray.
Military veteran and businessman Kirk Jorgensen and medical doctor Fred Simon are also Republicans challenging Peters for California’s 52nd congressional district seat.
Full disclosure: The author is a treasurer for the Jorgensen campaign.
Photo: File