He withdrew from the First District senate race Thursday because of health concerns, but now lewd conduct allegations have surfaced about St. Bernard Councilman Joey Difatta.

The Times-Picayune obtained reports of two different incidents where Difatta was stopped for suspicion of engaging in lewd behavior in a public men's room: once back in 1996 at the Esplanade Mall, the other incident happened in Lakeside Shopping Center in March 2000.

Difatta’s son, Jeffrey, defended his father amid the allegations on the Eyewitness Morning News. Jeffrey said his father was a good leader and stands by him.

“Well, I feel in his 12-year political career, he's never given any reason to doubt him and I feel his constituents would back him on that, so why would we doubt him now,” he asked. “He says he has no involvement in this as far as he didn't initiate anything and his family sticks behind him."

Difatta has denied any wrongdoing and said reports did not play a part in his decision to drop out of the senate race.