Posted by
Defend America on Friday, March 05, 2010 5:16:22 PM
Eric Massa rumors preceded probe
By GLENN THRUSH & JOHN BRESNAHAN |
3/5/10 4:58 AM EST
Eager to avoid a repeat of the Mark Foley scandal, House Democratic leaders moved quickly last month when a staffer for Rep. Eric Massa complained that he’d made advances to a junior male aide.
But rumors about Massa had been circulating for months in both
Democratic and Republican circles on Capitol Hill, and GOP operatives
even considered digging into them on their own. However, sources say
there wasn’t evidence of any wrongdoing until Massa’s then-legislative
director contacted the office of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) in early February.
POLITICO reported Wednesday that Ronald Hikel, who was then Massa’s
deputy chief of staff and legislative director, went to the House
ethics committee last month with allegations that his boss had been
harassing another staffer. Massa, who announced Wednesday that he is
not seeking reelection, denied the allegations, saying he’s simply a
“salty old sailor” who sometimes speaks too bluntly.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33960.html