BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Just three days ago, he said he would not run for re-election this fall because of health problems.
Now, southern tier Congressman Eric Massa said he's stepping down next week amid accusations of harassment.
Citing his battle with cancer and a potential House ethics investigation, Congressman Eric Massa explained he will resign Monday.
A male staffer claims the 50-year-old Democrat sexually harassed him.
Massa admits to using inappropriate language but doesn't get anymore specific, saying, "My difficulties are of my own making. Period. I am also aware that blogs and radio will have a field day with this in today's destructive and unforgiving political environment."
Where does it leave Congress?
"It'll be one less yes vote for, let's say, healthcare," said Canisius college professor, Dr. Michael Haselwerdt.
Dr. Michael Haselswerdt said the Governor will most likely call a special election, that probably would take place around mid April.
This district stretches from Massa hometown of Corning and stretches all the way to include Allegany and Cattaraugus Counties.
Dr. Haselswerdt stated, "Well, I think that district will go back to being a Republican district. It was a Republican district before."
In fact, the last Republican to hold the seat, Randy Kuhl is considering running again.
This comes at the same time Governor Paterson is fighting for his political life, and another New York Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel was forced to give up his ways and means chairmanship, over an ethics violation.
There are at least four other House Democrats facing ethics probes.
House speaker, Nancy Pelosi had no comment on the Massa situation.
"You know what? This is rumor city. Every single day there are rumors. I have a job to do," she exclaimed.
"One of the strategies used to be that when something went bad, you'd disappear for awhile and there's just no way to disappear now," Dr. Haselswerdt said. "Advances in technology have made it much more difficult."
Copyright WIVB.com
New York Democrat Congressman Eric Massa, Is Now Saying He's Actually Being Forced Out By Obama's Thugocracy!
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheat-sheet/item/rep-massa-details-sex...
Rep. Massa Details Sex-Harassment Charge
Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) explained details of the ethics investigation into comments he made to a staffer to a New York radio station. Massa said he had been unaware of the investigation until he announced his retirement, a decision based on concern for his health. Massa said he and his staff were drunk at a party, and one staffer drunkenly said the congressman should pursue a bridesmaid, which Massa replied to by tousling the hair of a second staffer and saying, “Well, what I really ought to be doing is fracking you.” Though he conceded the statement was inappropriate, he said the complaint was made by a third staffer out of “political correctness.”
Massa then accused Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) of lying about the investigation’s timeline in statements to the press, and implied that Democratic leadership wanted the congressman out of office before the health-care vote. "Mine is now the deciding vote on the health care bill and this administration and this House leadership have said, quote-unquote, they will stop at nothing to pass this health-care bill, and now they’ve gotten rid of me and it will pass,” Massa said. “You connect the dots."
Posted at 6:12 AM, Mar 8, 2010
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