Massa Case Prompts a House Inquiry

The House ethics committee said Wednesday that it would investigate whether lawmakers or staff members failed to pursue reports of misconduct by former Representative Eric Massa, a New York Democrat who resigned his seat last month after complaints of sexual harassment of male staff members. The committee also said that lawmakers and staff members may have had a duty to “pursue or call attention” to Mr. Massa’s behavior. In the wake of reports that his chief of staff received a $40,000 raise just before the resignation, the panel said it would also look into whether “monies or other payments may have been misappropriated, or otherwise fraudulently or improperly distributed.” Mr. Massa has denied approving the increase.(Source)