New York Rep. Massa Resigns; Says Party’s Healthcare Push Forced Him Out

Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – New York’s 29th congressional district lost its representative late Monday after Eric Massa officially resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment from an aide. The Democrat has accused leaders of his party of forcing him out of office because of his opposition to the healthcare reform bill the administration wants to pass.

Massa’s resignation took effect at the close of business Monday, four days after the House Ethics Committee said it was investigating allegations against him.

Only a year into his first term, Massa announced early last week that his cancer had returned and that he would not run for re-election in November. In a later statement he said that upon making the decision to retire, he was told that a member of his staff had felt “uncomfortable” at statements he made and that a report had been filed with the ethics panel.

“At no point prior to this had any member of the Ethics Committee communicated with me directly – i[n] fact I first read it on the Internet,” said the 50-year-old Massa while admitting, “I did in fact, use language in the privacy of my own home and in my inner office that, after 24 years in the Navy, might make a Chief Petty Officer feel uncomfortable.”

He added, “There is no doubt that this Ethics issue is my fault and mine alone. But in the incredibly toxic atmosphere that is Washington D.C., with the destruction of our elected leaders having become a blood sport, especially in talk radio and on the Internet, there is also no doubt that an Ethics investigation would tear my family and my staff apart.”

On Sunday, Massa accused Democratic leaders of pushing him out because of his opposition last year to a healthcare reform proposal that has failed to gain Republican support.

“I was set up for this from the very, very beginning,” Massa said on his radio show on WKPQ-FM. “If you think that somehow they didn’t come after me to get rid of me because my vote is the deciding vote on the healthcare bill, then ladies and gentlemen, you live today in a world that is so innocent as to not understand what is going on in Washington, D.C.”

He said the ethics probe surrounds an incident at a New Year’s Eve party when he “tousled the hair” of a male aide and told him jokingly, “What I really ought to be doing is fracking you.”

The White House and congressional Democrats have not released official statements in response to Massa’s accusations. The office of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said a day before the ethics panel announced its probe that it was informed of the harassment allegations by a member of Massa’s staff on the week of Feb. 8.

“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,” said Katie Grant, Hoyer’s spokesperson.

“Mr. Hoyer does not know whether the allegations are true or false,” she added, “but wanted to ensure that the bipartisan committee charged with overseeing conduct of Members was immediately involved to determine the facts.”

Republicans have pounced at the chance to remind voters of another New York Democrat who resigned “under a cloud of suspicion and corruption.” Gov. David Paterson last week said he would retire after his term ends after allegations surfaced that he may have tried to pressure a woman from pressing assault charges against an aide.

“The people of New York’s 29th Congressional District deserve better and they will be better served by a Republican who fights for them in Washington to lower taxes, create jobs and keep our nation safe,” state party chairman Edward Cox said in a statement.

Massa’s seat was previously held by the GOP. His resignation and accusations against his own party come when Democrats are seeking to regain public support ahead of what is expected to be a tough fight to defend their majority in Congress in November.

Apart from the mid-term elections, Washington Democrats are trying to complete the final stages of passing a healthcare reform bill. The administration wants lawmakers to vote on the measure before President Barack Obama departs for Asia on March 18. The House and Senate are working to reconcile differences of legislation each chamber passed last year before they lost the seat long held by Ted Kennedy.

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