On September 18, 2008, the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call ran an article questioning Mahoney's residency status.[13] It alleged that Mahoney had registered to vote at "a horse barn" for the purposes of having residency in his Congressional District, while his primary residence was actually in another district.
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On October 13, 2008, ABC News reported that Mahoney had agreed to a $121,000 payment to a former mistress who worked on his staff and was threatening to sue him.[1] Because Mahoney won this seat in 2006 after a sex scandal forced the incumbent to resign, several[15][16] considered it ironic that a sex scandal of his own coming to light a month before the election, especially since he first campaigned against such corruption.[17] Some professional political pundits, such as Charlie Cook, have already reclassified the race as "Leans Republican."[18] The FBI is looking into whether Mahoney hired the first mistress — and put her on the federal payroll — so she would not reveal their affair.[19]
Mahoney admitted to having "numerous" affairs, "certainly more than two."[20][21] Mahoney's wife Terry filed for divorce in Palm Beach County court on October 20, 2008.
