THE PLOT THICKENS-MUD SLINGING BEGINS
Massa makes accusations against chief of staff
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By Tyler Briggs
The Evening Tribune
Sun Apr 18, 2010, 08:47 AM EDT
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Hornell, N.Y. -
There’s now two sexual harassment lawsuits against Eric Massa, the former representative of the 29th Congressional District who officially resigned March 8.
Joe Racalto, Massa’s chief of staff, has filed a complaint against Massa, his lawyer, Camilla C. McKinney, said through email Saturday.
News broke Wednesday that a male aide to Massa filed a lawsuit alleging the 50-year-old Massa regularly groped him, propositioned him and made lewd remarks to him and other staffers. Unlike Racalto, the aide has remained anonymous, for fear of ruining his career on Capitol Hill his attorney said.
Saturday it was reported that Massa made accusations against his chief of staff.
Massa told the AP through his lawyer, Milo Silberstein, that he didn't authorize a $40,000 check his campaign wrote to Racalto. Massa also denied authorizing a check from a campaign account in the same amount for Racalto.
According to the AP article, Massa's statement alleged that "someone forged then-Congressman Massa's signature on forms raising Mr. Racalto's own salary as a member of the congressman's personal staff from $120,000 per year to the maximum permissible level of $160,000."
Not the case, according to McKinney.
“The check is from the campaign, and it was signed by someone authorized to do so by the campaign,” Racalto’s attorney said. “It would be ridiculous for anyone in the campaign to cut a check for $40,000 without specific approval of Congressman Massa. The money was owed to Mr. Racalto for work he did on Massa’s transition in 2008 and the 2010 campaign.
“Mr. Racalto received a pay raise at the same time as did other staff members,” McKinney said. “The pay raises were authorized by Congressman Massa at the congressman's direction, and the pay increases were made from the Members Representational Allowance.”
Massa’s attorney could not be reached for comment Saturday.
McKinney questioned the timing of Massa’s statements against her client.
“The timing of the allegations by Massa is highly questionable and suspicious in light of Racalto's recent announcement of his sexual harassment complaint,” she said. “The former congressman is trying to discredit someone who is making a sexual harassment complaint against him.”
More dirt was dished on Massa Friday, as Politico reported that he spent nearly $32,000 of campaign money on an automobile just two days before announcing his resignation.
Massa makes accusations against chief of staff
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Tyler Briggs
The Evening Tribune
Sun Apr 18, 2010, 08:47 AM EDT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Print This | ShareThis
Hornell, N.Y. -
There’s now two sexual harassment lawsuits against Eric Massa, the former representative of the 29th Congressional District who officially resigned March 8.
Joe Racalto, Massa’s chief of staff, has filed a complaint against Massa, his lawyer, Camilla C. McKinney, said through email Saturday.
News broke Wednesday that a male aide to Massa filed a lawsuit alleging the 50-year-old Massa regularly groped him, propositioned him and made lewd remarks to him and other staffers. Unlike Racalto, the aide has remained anonymous, for fear of ruining his career on Capitol Hill his attorney said.
Saturday it was reported that Massa made accusations against his chief of staff.
Massa told the AP through his lawyer, Milo Silberstein, that he didn't authorize a $40,000 check his campaign wrote to Racalto. Massa also denied authorizing a check from a campaign account in the same amount for Racalto.
According to the AP article, Massa's statement alleged that "someone forged then-Congressman Massa's signature on forms raising Mr. Racalto's own salary as a member of the congressman's personal staff from $120,000 per year to the maximum permissible level of $160,000."
Not the case, according to McKinney.
“The check is from the campaign, and it was signed by someone authorized to do so by the campaign,” Racalto’s attorney said. “It would be ridiculous for anyone in the campaign to cut a check for $40,000 without specific approval of Congressman Massa. The money was owed to Mr. Racalto for work he did on Massa’s transition in 2008 and the 2010 campaign.
“Mr. Racalto received a pay raise at the same time as did other staff members,” McKinney said. “The pay raises were authorized by Congressman Massa at the congressman's direction, and the pay increases were made from the Members Representational Allowance.”
Massa’s attorney could not be reached for comment Saturday.
McKinney questioned the timing of Massa’s statements against her client.
“The timing of the allegations by Massa is highly questionable and suspicious in light of Racalto's recent announcement of his sexual harassment complaint,” she said. “The former congressman is trying to discredit someone who is making a sexual harassment complaint against him.”
More dirt was dished on Massa Friday, as Politico reported that he spent nearly $32,000 of campaign money on an automobile just two days before announcing his resignation.
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