Massa: Groping was not sexual

2010-03-10 09:08

Washington - Former Democratic Representative Eric Massa, who resigned from Congress amid sexual harassment allegations, acknowledged on Tuesday groping a staffer but described it as tickling, not sexual behaviour.

The Washington Post, citing anonymous sources, reported on Tuesday that the House of Representatives ethics panel has been investigating allegations Massa groped multiple male staffers in his office. Massa has previously claimed his misconduct was limited to using inappropriate language with staffers.

Massa's acknowledgments of inappropriate behaviour have come as the House's majority Democrats struggle with ethics matters among their own ranks despite promising to clean up Congress when they came to power. All members of the Democratic-controlled chamber are up for re-election in November, and Republicans hope to capitalise on voter anger with big gains.

The New York delegation has been especially hard-hit by ethics matters. Representative Charlie Rangel, a 20-term House veteran and the most influential member of the delegation surrendered the chairmanship of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee this week after the ethics committee found that the Harlem Democrat had broken House rules on accepting gifts.

Massa was asked directly on conservative commentator Glenn Beck's Fox News Channel show whether he sexually groped anyone, and replied: "No, no, no."

He did, however, recall tickling a staffer at a birthday party.

Massa said his actions may have been misinterpreted.

"It doesn't make any difference what my intentions were, it's how it's perceived by the individual who receives that action," Massa said. "I'm telling you I was wrong. I was wrong. ... My behaviour was wrong. I should have never allowed myself to be as familiar with my staff as I was."

Massa has given different reasons over the past week for quitting his seat before completing his first term, including personal health worries, a House ethics probe and his charges that fellow Democrats pushed him out because he opposed their health care reform bill. Democrats deny the charge. He took a slightly different tack on Tuesday.

"I wasn't forced out," he said. "I forced myself out."

Massa added he did not live up to his own personal code of conduct.

Massa, 50, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1996, defeated Republican Representative Randy Kuhl in 2008 in a district long dominated by Republicans. He said his cancer returned in December.

Massa's departure is good news for the healthcare reform effort by the leader of the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to advance a troubled healthcare overhaul. Massa had voted against it. His departure reduces the majority she needs for passage to 216.

- AP