Today’s news from the Swamp…
Rep. Eric Massa (Democrat- NY) will resign from Congress following allegations that he sexually harassed a male staffer.
The Politico reported:
Democratic Rep. Eric Massa is expected to resign from Congress on Monday, only days after reports first surfaced that the freshman New York lawmaker was under investigation by the House ethics committee for allegedly sexually harassing a male staffer.
A House staffer with knowledge of the situation says Massa is preparing to announce his resignation and will break the news in the Corning Leader, his local newspaper, but several media outlets were already reporting the news Friday afternoon.
Massa, who was elected in November 2008, announced earlier in the week that he would not be seeking a second term following a cancer scare in December. He initially dismissed as “unsubstantiated” a POLITICO report that he was being scrutinized for improper advances to a junior aide in his office.
But the ethics committee formally announced on Thursday night that Massa was under investigation by the panel, although Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Jo Bonner (R-Ala.), the chairwoman and ranking member of the committee, did not announce the reason for their probe.
More… Rep. Massa says he’s guilty:
(Massa says) he does not know who reported him to House leaders or what was said.
“I can’t subject my family and staff to a full investigation,” Massa said. “It would tear us apart … It’s not that I can fight or beat these allegations, I’m guilty.”
…Massa is one of seven retiring House Democrats who represent districts won by McCain in 2008.
UPDATE: a Massa aide told POLITICO that Massa — who is married and has children — has been engaged in inappropriate behavior “for eight months.”
