Inglewood Mayor James Butts walked out of an interview with a local Los Angeles news station, calling a reporter’s questions a “setup” and “ridiculous” as he faces a tight race for reelection, which will go into a runoff.

The longtime mayor was speaking with CBS Los Angeles about his bid for another term when the interview took a contentious turn after the reporter asked him to respond to residents who had raised concerns about his personality.

In September, the mayor was accused of inappropriately touching a teenage cheerleader while posing for a photograph at a City Hall voter registration event.

The allegations prompted calls from residents and activists for his resignation, although Butts has repeatedly denied any misconduct.

“What do you say to people who say that this election was a referendum on you when they say things like they have issues, in their words, with your character and they feel that you are contemptuous?” the reporter asked.

Butts immediately pushed back.

“Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Say that again,” he responded.

“I don’t even understand how you would answer a question like that. I don’t know what the situation is. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the mayor continued.

As the reporter attempted to elaborate, mentioning city council meetings, Butts announced that he was ending the conversation.

“I’m gonna terminate this,” Butts said.

“This is ridiculous. This is ridiculous. This is a setup,” he added.

When the reporter pressed him on why he was leaving, Butts accused the station of asking questions he could not reasonably answer.

“I’m walking out because this is a setup. This is a no-win set of questions,” Butts said. “I don’t know who you’re talking about. I don’t know what situation is you’re talking about, my man.”

The mayor also questioned whether the reporter planned to ask similar questions of his opponent.

The CBS LA reporter said he spoke with Butts off camera for several minutes following the confrontation and that the mayor eventually returned to finish the interview.

The heated exchange comes as Butts trails City Councilmember Gloria Gray in his bid for a fifth term.

As of Wednesday morning, Gray had secured 32.65% of the vote compared with Butts’ 29.22%, according to figures from the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder. With neither candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote, the race could head to a runoff in March between the two leading candidates if the results hold.

Butts, who has led Inglewood since 2011, has faced controversy over allegations of misconduct during his decades in public service.

On Monday, Nov. 2, the student who accused Butts of the inappropriate touching filed a formal government claim against Butts and the city of Inglewood, alleging that he touched and restrained her without her consent during the Sept. 15 event.

The claim alleges that Butts placed his arm around the student’s bare skin and held her as she attempted to move away, causing her physical and emotional distress.

The filing is a precursor to a potential lawsuit against the city.

Butts has denied the allegations.

The mayor previously described the allegations as politically motivated and maintained that he had been holding his cellphone during the photo.

Butts has also faced allegations dating back to his career in law enforcement.

In 1993, authorities received a criminal referral alleging that Butts had molested his young daughter. His former wife, Minnie, also alleged that he had choked her until she lost consciousness in 1991.

Butts denied wrongdoing, and prosecutors declined to file criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence, according to the Los Angeles Times.

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