Massa Under Investigation For Sexual Harassment

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RACALTO: ANYTHING CAN BE ALLEGED

POLITICO. COM is reporting today that Rep. Eric Massa (D-29^th NY) is indeed under investigation for ethics violations. This was confirmed last night by the House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

 POLITICO, the on-line newspaper, says that Ronald Hikel, a former top staffer and deputy chief of staff for Massa, reported Massa to the House Ethics Committee for making unwanted sexual advances toward a junior male staffer. 

Wednesday, Massa attacked the “bloggers” and denied any wrong doing but the statement by Hoyer seems to confirm that an investigation is underway.  He said he was not seeking a second term for health reasons.

At a press conference Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denied knowing there was an investigation underway on Massa.  She said Massa notified her Wednesday that he would not seek re-election but she had heard nothing of any investigation.  

Here is the statement released by Hoyer’s office: 

The week of February 8th, a member of Rep. Massa’s staff brought to the attention of Mr. Hoyer’s staff allegations of misconduct that had been made against Mr. Massa. Mr. Hoyer’s staff immediately informed him of what they had been told. Mr. Hoyer instructed his staff that if Mr. Massa or his staff did not bring the matter to the attention of the bipartisan Ethics Committee within 48 hours, Mr. Hoyer would do so. Within 48 hours, Mr. Hoyer received confirmation from both the Ethics Committee staff and Mr. Massa’s staff that the Ethics Committee had been contacted and would review the allegations. Mr. Hoyer does not know whether the allegations are true or false, but wanted to ensure that the bipartisan committee charged with overseeing conduct of Members was immediately involved to determine the facts.”

Massa said Wednesday that he was not running because of a recurrence of cancer which was discovered in December and denied any ethics issues.  The statement by Hoyer seems to contradict this.

Our news department spoke with Massa's Chief of Staff Joe Racalto, who confirmed that there is an ethics inquiry going on.  "There is an ethics inquiry...but I caution people to stand back and say okay, an ethics inquiry can come from any number of sources, from or within the hill, off the hill, anything can be alleged. 

Racalto maintains that the news of Massa's cancer returning is not just an excuse to pull out during a difficult political situation.  "The congressman has said that, and I can confirm that we are facing an illness.  He has been down this road before, and he's now going down that road again...he cannot continue this way of life," said Racalto.  "He cannot continue to go 110 miles an hour, trying to please everybody, it's going to kill him," Racalto commented.