Accusations of physical violence are making headlines in the race for Cayuga County district attorney.

Incumbent Jon Budelmann is accused by Democratic opponent Tom Turturo of getting physical with a staff member.

It came out during a debate last week. It started when Budelmann accused Turturo of not being able to manage money well, saying he had filed for bankruptcy about 10 years ago. In Turturo's rebuttal, he said the DA didn't understand bankruptcy law or any other law outside of crime.

That's when Turturo accused Budelmann of trying to fire an assistant DA and causing a physical altercation. Budelmann quickly denied the claims, saying he was never physical with a member of his staff.

ADA Josh Bennett, the staff member in question, also claims Budelmann put his hands on him. Bennett says it happened when he told the DA he was taking military leave.

Budelmann is calling the whole thing a political attack, saying both Turturo and Bennett are conspiring against him.

"We're in the final week of the campaign; this is the time when people are going to get desperate," said Budelmann. "This is when they're going to do it. This is last-minute dirty politics again. As we just discussed, it's designed to distract the voters from the fact that my opponent has no prosecution experience at all."

“I'm not excited that this debate has really come down to Mr. Budelmann accusing me of the grandiose conspiracy to undermine his election," said Turturo, "or the allegation that a service member is making up a criminal complaint or would file a false complaint in order to try and swing this election."

Budelmann claims that ADA Bennett was offered a job by Turturo if elected. Turturo denies a job was ever offered.

Bennett went on administrative leave on November 15. He will return to the DA's office in six months.