Dem Congressman to Step Down Amid Sex Scandal Allegations

Meredith Jessup | March 03, 2010 3:02 PM

Literally in the middle of President Obama's televised health care nonsense came word that one-term Rep. Eric Massa, D-N.Y., will not seek reelection to office this fall.

According to Politico, several House aides have come forward from both sides of the aisle with allegations that Massa, who is married with two children, sexually harassed a male staffer.

These allegations have drawn the attention of the House Ethics Committee, but Massa insists no one has told him about them.

There's likely much more to come in this story since Massa has yet to make his "official" announcement. However, word of his resignation has reportedly come as a sudden surprise for fellow Democrats in the NY delegation.

With his announcement to retire, Massa becomes the 15th House Democrat to leave Congress at the end of this term; 11 of them planning to leave in districts Republicans are aggressively targeting. Republicans in the House are planning to see 19 retirements as of today, but most of their members are leaving seats considered safe for the party.

Massa's departure marks the third political blow to New York Dems this week, following the announcement Gov. David Paterson will now seek re-election and Rep. Charlie Rangel's plans to step down as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee amid an ethics investigation of his own.