I am confused..Massa's former deputy chief Heikel was the one that took the complaint

[Peacetrain]

to the ethics committee.. what has Rahm got to do with the price of tea in China on this..


"First-term Rep. Eric Massa announced Wednesday that he will not seek reelection, saying his doctors have told him that he can’t continue to “run at 100 miles an hour.”

But several House aides told POLITICO that the House ethics committee has been informed of allegations that the New York Democrat, who is married with two children, made unwanted advances toward a junior male staffer.

A more senior staffer — Ronald Hikel, Massa’s former deputy chief of staff and legislative director — took the complaints to the ethics committee and was interviewed about them twice.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33864.html#ixzz0hd8ZmpE0




http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33864.html

[jaxx]

1. Looks like Rahm was the scapegoat.

Will we see some apologies?

[Peacetrain]

2. It has been out there since the beginning who took the complaint to the ethics committee

Where did this Rahm buisness come from?

[tabatha]

3. Rahm is the favorite whipping boy ---- no facts needed.

[Peacetrain]

6. This has my head spinning.. Massa, gets taken out by his own Chief Deputy..

And now he is going to go on Beck of all people and try and smear the Democrats to get away from being tarred and feathered for sexual harassment?

[jaxx]

4. I think it's called selective amnesia.

There's a lot of that going around lately.

[Peacetrain]

10. I saw all this Rahm buisness, and went back to google the Massa thing from the start

Rahm is no where in there.. it was Massa's people who served him up on a platter to the ethics committee..

[Bitwit1234]

5. He said Rahm interviewed him when he was naked

guess that was wishful thinking.

[Peacetrain]

8. Say what?

That is an image I am trying not to conjure up :rofl:

[Garbo 2004]

21. When Massa was first in Congress (?), says Rahn chewed him out about a vote

while they were in the gym's shower room. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/08/eric-massa-rahm-emanuel-i_n_490058.html

[phleshdef]

7. LOL. Its a combination of the whole mythical legend of Rahm and people who watch too much tv.

[donco6]

9. Massa accused him. Don't know why - but he was pretty steamed.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/08/eric-massa-rahm-emanuel-i_n_490058.html

Maybe he's just making an assumption? But you don't call someone "devil spawn" unless you're pretty pissed.

[Peacetrain]

11. Massa accused Rahm.. Heikel accuses Massa.. Junior staffer accuses Massa

my head is spinning

[donco6]

14. Frankly, I think Massa's just covering his ass.

We've seen this song and dance before. And BECK? Fuck that . . . I mean, Hamsher rubbing shoulders with "drown govt in a bathtub" was one thing, but this is another league altogether.

[Peacetrain]

16. Going on Beck of all people has me going hmmmmmmm...... kind of reminds me

of Blagovich (sp?)..

[donco6]

22. Yes, exactly. n/t

[cadmium]

18. so to speak.

[donco6]

23. hahaha! I didn't even think of that, I swear. n/t

[Cha]

13. Massa is on the local news here a lot..

and he's already owned up to using language to his aide that could be misconstrued(according to Massa)..and he said he was going to resign anyway bc of health issues.

He said he uses language that would make a sailor blush..paraphrasing..I don't trust him.

[Peacetrain]

15. The junior staffer accused him of sexual harrassment because of blue language?

Words can be used like a knife.. speaking of salty language.. can you imagine Rahm and apparently now Massa owning up to being a salty language person, having a conversation.


Kind of boggles the mind

[Cha]

19. That was Massa's story..I don't

have any ounce of respect for him now..I want to hear from his accuser.

[cadmium]

12. funny the more crap

that gets thrown at Rahm, the more inclined I am to give him the benefit of the doubt. I am sure there are plenty of real complaints about Rahm but the kitchen sink approach to blame him for practically everything makes them all seem questionable.

[Cha]

25. Exactly..and I for sure don't believe this bc

we all got the first story on local Albany news last week when Massa took responsibility for using salty language to his aide and saw how it could be misconstured..now I just don't believe him.

I want to hear from the aide who made the accusation.

Edit~ He also said that before he learned about this he had planned to resign bc of health issues.

Now I'm thinking he wants to be the victim.

[cadmium]

26. Sad. I really liked

Massa when he ran and lost and came back and ran again. Donated to him both times. He can be a real tough articulate advocate. I am tending not to believe him and either way it is too bad.

[DURHAM D]

17. Given that Hikel is a "senior staffer" the first question I would ask is -

what committees, sub-committees, lobbyists and other congress people has Hikel worked for? Since he is a senior staffer he has been on the Hill for awhile. What is his history?

And more importantly, what is his "promised" future job.

[Peacetrain]

20. I have no idea..but apparently Heikel took the complaint to Hoyer on Feb 8th

"Ronald Hikel, Massa’s former deputy chief of staff and legislative director, went to Hoyer’s office on Feb. 8 with an allegation that Massa had harassed a junior male staffer in the New York Democrats personal office.

Hikel was told by Hoyer’s staff that he should report the allegation to the ethics committee himself or Hoyer would. Hikel did as told by Hoyer’s staff, and he was twice interviewed by panel staffers, Hikel confirmed."


http://dyn.politico.com/members/forums/thread.cfm?catid=1&subcatid=2&threadid=3765207

[PATRICK]

24. Our local Dems

are discussing the guy who was a disgruntled staffer, stupidly rehired and there is some sort of ill will basis to the charges. I suppose it is only a matter of real interest if someone was paid to go Judas except that having a "cloud" over a solitary populist elected Rep. who wouldn't vote the Rahm way is a gift that keeps giving for the administration- despite the damage it does to just about everything. Is the party really going to blow wad of money with big name more compliant candidates- who will lose and they can only congratulate themselves if they hold it close?

By this mess just roiling about, justified or not, I find it hard to even fantasize about having any credibility as a phone caller unless I am just parroting a line and checking a list for someone I have no enthusiasm for.