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Anchored by Jake Tapper, The Lead airs at 4 p.m. ET on CNN.
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politics lead
San Diego DA clears DeMaio of sexual misconduct, accuser of break-in
(CNN) - A former aide to congressional candidate Carl DeMaio will not be charged with breaking into DeMaio's campaign office, according to the San Diego district attorney.
Former campaign aide Todd Bosnich accused DeMaio of sexual harassment, including masturbating in front of him. DeMaio denied the allegation and said it was a cover story Bosnich made up after breaking into and vandalizing his campaign office. Bosnich denied breaking into DeMaio's office. The DA's office also announced it will not file sexual misconduct charges against DeMaio.
politics lead
Grimes and her family's Hugh Jass Burgers
(CNN) - In her race to defeat Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Alison Lundergan Grimes has barnstormed Kentucky, talking up her support for raising the minimum wage and criticizing the GOP's so-called war on women.
But the restaurant owned by Grimes' family doesn't always practice what she preaches, and Kentucky Republicans have been happy to point that out.
On the campaign trail, Grimes said recently, "I'm fighting for all Kentuckians, all working Americans across this nation. I don't believe $7.25 an hour raises a family of four above the poverty level."
world lead
Gay Republican congressional candidate accused of sexual harassment
San Diego (CNN) - Charges of sexual misconduct, plagiarism and burglary have pitted a former staffer against a high-profile congressional candidate just weeks before the midterm elections.
The drama is unfolding in a city that just weathered a sexual harassment scandal ending the career of its Democratic mayor. The latest accusations by a former campaign aide could derail the career of up-and-coming Republican Carl DeMaio.
In a story of charges and counter charges, the one constant is this: they both insist the other is lying.
DeMaio has won national name recognition as a "new generation Republican," calling on his party to ditch social issues and winning plaudits for helping the Grand Old Party shed what many see as its intolerant image.
national lead
Shinseki 'mad as hell' about VA allegations, but won't resign
Washington (CNN) - Under withering criticism, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki told a Senate committee on Thursday that he was "mad as hell" about allegations of deadly waiting times and coverup at VA hospitals but he doesn't plan to resign.
"Any allegation, any adverse incident like this makes me mad as hell," Shinseki said at the first congressional hearing since reports of 40 deaths in Phoenix that may be due to a lack of timely care for veterans.
Noting an inspector general's investigation was already underway, Shinseki said that "we will act" on any substantiated allegation, an assurance that angered senators from both parties who insisted the problems are real and need immediate action.
national lead
Source: VA Inspector General searching employees' computers
(CNN) – Criminal investigators from the the Office of Inspector General are on the ground in Phoenix, CNN has learned, and a source within Veterans Affairs says employees computers are being taken for examination.
On April 23, CNN revealed accusations from a retired Veterans Administration doctor that the VA in Phoenix had a secret list for patients waiting for doctor appointments that differed from the official list. He said then that 40 veterans died waiting for care.
Right now, the investigation's main focus is on Phoenix, but investigators are also looking into similar allegations of delayed care in San Antonio, Texas, Fort Collins, Colorado, as well as other locations.
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