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Massa resigns to avoid ethics probe
Democratic Representative Eric Massa poses in this 2009 official photo. Massa announced his resignation on March 5, 2010, saying an ethics investigation into alleged misconduct toward a male staff member would tear his family and staff apart.
Credit: Reuters/massa.house.gov/Handout
WASHINGTON |
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Freshman Democratic Representative Eric Massa announced his resignation on Friday, saying an ethics investigation into alleged misconduct toward a male staff member would tear his family and staff apart.
"In the incredibly toxic atmosphere that is Washington D.C., with the destruction of our elected leaders having become a blood sport, especially in talk radio and on the Internet, there is also no doubt that an ethics investigation would tear my family and my staff apart," the New York lawmaker said in a note posted on the Internet, massa.house.gov/.
His resignation is effective on Monday at 5 p.m. (2200 GMT), he said.
Massa was the second Democrat in a week to be hit by damaging ethics questions, and his departure is a further embarrassment for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who had pledged to create "the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history."
Republicans have ridiculed Pelosi over this week's ethics revelations, saying the behavior of Democrats had made a mockery of her promise to clean up Congress.
Massa announced earlier this week that he would not seek re-election because of health reasons. News reports said he was under an ethics investigation for alleged sexual harassment against a male staffer.
"My difficulties are of my own making," he wrote. "I am also aware that blogs and radio will have a field day with this in today's destructive and unforgiving political environment."
Massa's problems follow an ethics probe of fellow New York Representative Charles Rangel, who was admonished by the House ethics panel for taking corporate-paid trips to the Caribbean in violation of the chamber's gift rules.
Rangel gave up his chairmanship of the powerful tax-writing Ways and Means Committee this week pending other ethics investigations.
Massa's departure brings the number of Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives to 253, with 178 Republicans.
His departure is not likely to have a big impact on Pelosi's ability to round up votes to get a final healthcare overhaul bill to President Barack Obama.
Massa voted against the bill that passed the House in November in a close vote. Four vacancies bring the number of House members to 431, which means 216 votes will be needed to pass the sweeping healthcare overhaul.
(Reporting by Donna Smith; Editing by David Alexander and Eric Beech)
Wouldn’t it be great if all the immoral, unethical, corrupt Democrats left office and others were ineligible to run for office? We’d need a new President, Speaker of the House, Senate majority leader numerous governors, over half of the Representatives, and half the Senate. And there would be insufficinet eligible Democrats to run for their replacement.
Another reason for term limits. I think that term limits are the solution to many of these problems, including Nancy Pelosi.
So thats it. I’m so glad you cleared up the fact that all democrats are crooked. What would we do without people like you. So why is it only the Dems are corrupt? Oh yah Republicans are our saviors. Should we throw halos on their heads or just worship them on our knees? By saying things like this you show your ignorance. Open your mind and truly think for yourself. Quit making your assumptions from the talking points of FOX “NEWS”. The American political SYSTEM is corrupt.
Tom Delay, Newt Gingrich, Mark Foley, Curt Weldon, Bob Taft…Newt had the unique honor of being the first speaker of the house accused of ethics violations in 208 years. The rest were mostly pervs and wife-beaters. Think we need more of that kind?
@BHO: Sure, throw all the bums out. But don’t forget to take all your race-baiting closeted gay bigot Republicans out with the garbage. You’re kidding yourself if you think any party is morally superior than the other.
I do not believe term limits are the solution to Massa’s problems. He has not completed one term yet. I do agree that federally elected officials should only be able to serve for eight years. This would solve MANY problems.
Term limits solve nothing, but rather encourage mediocrity, as we have seen. Senators like Everett Dirksen would never have had impact they did if term-limits had been in force. We need legislators who can grow up in the House and the Senate. Mistakes will be made along the way, and if a legislator proves inept, over a period of time, then we vote them out of office.
The issues today are rooted in money. Our legislators are held captive by lobbyists and big-moneyed interests – a corrupting influence, poisonous to the core.
Further intensified by a growing irrational anger, fueled by talk-radio and hate-mongers who relish their influence, as did Joe McCarthy and Fr. Coughlin. They are specialists in division and rancor.
This is a problem for the whole of American, Dems and GOP alike. This is no time for throwing stones or casting irresponsible judgment. This is a time for all of us to reach deep into our souls and find the common vision that has guided this nation at its best.
We might do well to read Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural.
The Massa scandal is causing a panic in Washington. Once untouchable politicians are running scared. They have witnessed a few of their powerful cohorts thrown under the bus. The fear of being next is forcing them into a tight knit circle where they huddle together for protection. They are no different than circus animals that have to obey a ringmaster.
