The Congressional Office of Compliance paid out just under $100,000 in taxpayer funds to two male staffers to settle sexual harassment claims against disgraced former Democratic New York Rep. Eric Massa, according to a new report.
Massa resigned in 2010 following allegations that he groped and sexually harassed his male staffers. The secret settlement payments took place in 2010 following Massa’s resignation, ABC News reported on Thursday.
Massa’s settlement was part of the $17 million slush fund that was secretly paid out to settle congressional harassment claims, including sexual harassment complaints.
News of Massa’s settlement follows reporting that Democratic Michigan Rep. John Conyers quietly paid out more than $27,000 in taxpayer funds to settle with a sexual harassment accuser in exchange for her silence. (RELATED: Top Democrat Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accuser With $27K In Taxpayer Money)
Massa reportedly began sexually harassing his male staffers almost immediately after taking office in 2010. The Democratic congressman would reportedly grope his staffers and make sexual advances on them. He resigned in disgrace in March 2010.
After initially defending him, leading House Democrats have called on Conyers to resign. The Michigan congressman is accused of serially sexually harassing his female staffers and demanding sexual favors from them. Despite the pressure to resign, Conyers has indicated that he plans to remain in office. (RELATED: Al Franken’s Turn: House Dems Say Alleged Groper Should Follow Conyers Out The Door)