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Eric Massa Resigns As Sexual Harassment Allegations Investigated

by Yuliya Talmazan | March 5, 2010 at 04:04 pm

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Erica Massa To Resign: Illness Or Allegations of Harassment?

Eric Massa, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 29th district, announced today that he would resign as of March 8 with a "profound sense of failure." The 50-year-old politician and a former naval officer assumed office in January of 2009. It was reported just days ago that Massa is not likely to run for re-election in November over the recurrence of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. But, some observers tied the resignation to allegations of sexual misconduct toward a younger male member of Massa's staff after a complaint was filed with the House Ethics Committee.

Massa released a statement, admitting his behaviour and language might have been "salty." He said he apologizes "where it is appropriate." But, Mass called claims against him "unsubstantiated." He also said that the allegations is not why he is retiring and that it is his illness that is forcing him to vacate his seat.

I decided to finally take the advice that my doctors have repeatedly given me, and that is to take care of my family and myself before my profession.

After I decided not to run again I was told, for the first time, that a member of my staff believed I had made statements that made him feel “uncomfortable.” I was told that a report had been filed with the Congressional Ethics Committee.

“Do I or have I ever used salty language when I’m angry, especially in the privacy of my inner office or even at home? Yes, I have, and I have apologized to those where it’s appropriate,” Massa said. “But those kinds of articles, unsubstantiated, without fact or backing, are a symptom of what’s wrong with this city.”

Massa did drop a clue that his background is not perfect.

In that investigators would be free to ask anything about me going back to my birth, I simply cannot rise to that level of perfection. God knows that I am a deeply flawed and imperfect person.

Although Massa voted against Obama's health care reform, he will become the 15th Democrat to announce plans to leave the House, thining the party's representation in the House.