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Three sources tell the Washington Post that just-resigned Congressman Eric Massa in under investigation for allegedly groping multiple male members of his staff.
The allegations surrounding the former lawmaker date back at least a year, and involve “a pattern of behavior and physical harassment,” according to one source. The new claims of alleged groping contradict statements by Massa, who resigned his office on Monday after it became public that he was the subject of a House ethics committee investigation for possible harassment.
Massa claimed the investigation was limited to his use of “salty language” with his staff.
According to two sources familiar with the probe, Massa’s former deputy chief of staff Ron Hikel provided the information about the staffers’ allegations to the House ethics committee three weeks ago. Hikel had earlier sought advice from Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s office about brewing internal complaints, the sources said, and had been urged to report the allegations to the committee.
Hikel, reached at his home Tuesday, declined to comment on the ethics investigation.
