Congressman's $121,000 Payoff to Alleged Mistress

[JackBeck]

Tim Mahoney Elected to Remove 'Ethical Cloud' of His Disgraced Predecessor, Mark Foley

By EMMA SCHWARTZ, RHONDA SCHWARTZ, and VIC WALTER
Oct. 13, 2008—


West Palm Beach Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-FL), whose predecessor resigned in the wake of a sex scandal, agreed to a $121,000 payment to a former mistress who worked on his staff and was threatening to sue him, according to current and former members of his staff who have been briefed on the settlement, which involved Mahoney and his campaign committee.

Mahoney, who is married, also promised the woman, Patricia Allen, a $50,000 a year job for two years at the agency that handles his campaign advertising, the staffers said.

A Mahoney spokesperson would not answer questions about the alleged affair or the settlement, but said Allen resigned of her own accord and "has not received any special payment from campaign funds."

Senior Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives, including Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), the chair of the Democratic Caucus, have been working with Mahoney to keep the matter from hurting his re-election campaign, the Mahoney staffers said.

A spokesperson for Emanuel denies that account, but said Emanuel did confront Mahoney "upon hearing a rumor" about an affair in 2007 and "told him he was in public life and had a responsibility to act accordingly." The spokesperson added that it was a "private conversation" that had nothing to do with Mahoney's re-election prospects.

Much more at:http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=5997043

[mrreowwr_kittty]

1. Um, he's a Democrat

But looking at that website with "faith and family" featured prominently, I say good riddance to him.

[JackBeck]

3. Edited before your post.

Was reading two different stories at the same time.

[PeaceNikki]

4. Recent "convert"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Mahoney#U.S._Congress

Mahoney had been a Republican for most of his life, but became a Democrat in 2004 after becoming disillusioned with the GOP.

[LaPera]

2. Will Fox news still report republican Foley as a democrat?