According to a plea agreement, Bosnich believed the threatening email would bolster his claims that DeMaio sexually harassed him and that he was offered hush money. DeMaio, 40, is a former San Diego city councilman and mayoral candidate who now hosts a radio show and is leading a campaign for statewide ballot initiative to curb public pensions. Dave McCulloch, DeMaio's campaign spokesman, said shortly after the November election that the controversy created "massive attrition and erosion" among the candidate's Republican base, including older, evangelical Christian voters, and created "an ick factor."