by Mark Silva
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says "a staffer'' had been advised of a problem with former Rep. Eric Massa before actual allegations were made against him.
Initially, Pelosi said her office had heard of a problem in February.
"I'm now finding out that there had been a conversation earlier, but it had nothing to... even come close to any kind of an allegation,'' Pelosi (D-Calif.) says in an interview airing tonight on MSNBC's The Rachel Mddow Show. "In terms of anything that is worthy of the attention of the ethics committee, that was in February when it was reported to the ethics committee."
The House voted today to also let the ethics committee look into when House leaders first knew about allegations of improper sexual conduct on Massa's part, and what they did about it. Massa, a Democrat from western New York State, resigned this week when it was reveailed that the committee was investigating his conduct.
It was in February "that there was an allegation against him, and at the same time, that it was referred to the ethics committee, and that was the appropriate route,'' Pelosi says. Before that, she says in the interview airing tonight, it was "a staffer'' who had a "conversation'' about Massa.
"A staffer in your office, but it was not something that your staff believed rose to the level...?'' Maddow asks.
"Right,'' Pelosi says -- to the level of an "allegation.''
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"There are all kinds of articles that are written about many members in the Congress, and I don't think we want to get to a place -- besides, I served on the ethics committee for seven years,'' Pelosi says. "When I say served, it was almost like a sentence, because it's very tough duty, and I commend the people who serve there and the service they provide to the Congress.
"But the last thing we would have wanted then was any intervention from the Speaker's office. There's an appropriate way for an allegation to be sent to the ethics committee,'' she says.
Massa "initially... made an allegation that he was being forced out because he was a vote against health care,'' Maddow notes. "And then he recanted that allegation. He's made some other inconsistent statements. But we're left with the impression that he may have behaved inappropriately toward people who worked for him....''
"That's up to the ethics committee to investigate,'' Pelosi says. "But the fact is that you started this conversation in the right way. That it's another subject that people would like to be a distraction. I will not take my eye off the ball, which is to pass health care reform right now, and to at this time to build support for what we are doing....
"In any event... I'm not paying a lot of attention to some of that,'' Pelosi says. "It's appropriately being dealt with where it's being dealt with. What I'm paying attention is how do we get to what we had dreamed of, to follow in the footsteps of Social Security, Medicare, health care for all Americans. It's a very heavy lift, it's very labor intensive.''
Comments
And I bet the mainstream media gives her a pass which they did not do under the same circumstances when it involved the Republicans.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | March 11, 2010 7:14 PM
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And I bet the mainstream media gives her a pass which they did not do under the same circumstances when it involved the Republicans.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | March 11, 2010 7:14 PM
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Clown, you mean like the pass the Conservative loving Corporate media gave to David Vitter, Jon Ensign and Mark Sanford - WHO ARE STILL SERVING IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?
The Dems reported Massa to the Ethics Committe, which caused him to resign. When the Repugs start doing the same thing with their criminals I'll start giving a damn what they think. Until then - forget it.
Posted by: HHH | March 11, 2010 8:04 PM
This should be a hilarious thread.
Everytime someone mentions Nancy Pelosi the right wing lunatic fringers stand up on their hind legs and start barking in unison.
It's like a Pavlov's dog trick.
Posted by: HHH | March 11, 2010 8:32 PM
This is an open letter for the good of the cause, please disregard if it doesn't apply to you: People who want to file multiple postings under different names should stop doing that, because it is misleading to the rest of the readers. As it is, your handle does not identify you publicly. But your IP address does ID you privately, so its clear to us when some players try to gain entry as multiple players. Stop it, please, and you'll find plenty of access, though we won't tolerate spamming either. So let's all play fair and square, please, and the world will go 'round.
Posted by: Mark Silva | March 11, 2010 9:36 PM
Triple H.
I'm sorry I was going back a few years I know you have a very short memory. But once again this is over your head. And seeing how the three people you listed were on the front page and have been punished. But, is what happened in the Foley case is happening in this case. But you being of the liberal mindset you cannot possibly put two and two together. What I am questioning is the media going to do to Pelosi what they did to Hatcher.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | March 11, 2010 11:20 PM
Thank you, Mark Silva!
Anyway, this sounds like Pelosi from nearly a year ago trying to explain what she was informed by the CIA about torture and waterboarding!
And, HHH, the Republicans in South Carolina have repeatedly asked Sanford to resign, to which he has not. But what is interesting is that Clinton's scandals were not scandals, but Sanford's affair is?
Regarding Vitter and Ensign, Ensign had an affair, again, not illegal! One could make the point that Vitter sleeping with a prostitute was illegal. But then, if that was the case, probably two-thirds of Congress would have to resign, beginning with Barney Frank who had an escort service ran out of his home.
Posted by: John D | March 12, 2010 12:54 AM
This is distracting from the people's business. They should be working on getting health care reform through...single payer is my choice...rather than worrying about which guy can't keep his hands to himself and his pants zipped.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | March 12, 2010 6:52 AM
You hit the mark, Mr Silva. Well done ! Next I am hoping you will call on some of these chickens to post under their own names. I know the request couldn't be enforced, but it would be interesting to see if they would continue to post their rabid rants, under their own names. I kind of doubt it. Nobody wants to look that stupid or duplicitous !! Excellent request ! It may eliminate some of the more silly comments. I hope it will.
Keep up the good work and thanks for your efforts, even if you are part of Corporate America Media !! You aren't all bad !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | March 12, 2010 8:19 AM
Speaker Pelosi makes Neut Getrich and Livingston, the Wannabe, look like pikers, in comparison. Getrich was a petulant partisan, politico and, well, Livingston, just got caught in the slimelights of Getrich's train !! What an an awful pair to be leaders of a declining national Party, whose political repertoire included Impeachment !! They were already bankrupt of viable political solutions in 1998. Nothing has changed, just their make-up !! Now, they are becoming the laughing-stock of America, with all of their lying and venomous attacks on President Obama !! Good bye Republican-Libertarian-T.Baggers, see you in a generation or two !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | March 12, 2010 8:34 AM
This is a prime example why the military should maintain there "Don't Ask, Don't tell" policy.
Posted by: Paul | March 12, 2010 8:38 AM
Posted by Mark Silva
*******
John E., looks like it is time to pick an alias and stick with it. How about Sybil?
Posted by: Herbie H. | March 12, 2010 10:12 AM
Apparently this isn't enough of a distraction for the hypocrite Nancy to get involved. I see she is using the Rangel defense, blame it on the staffers.
More likely the reason nothing was done is that sexual harrasement is only wrong when it becomes a political liability and the person is voting against lib interests. Climbing into a roommates bunk aboard ship, and grabbing him against his will, is just the sort of behavior that will get lib approval every time. After all, gay sexual harrasers are a minority and deserve special rights....as long as they don't oppose libcare.
Posted by: Hans | March 12, 2010 1:13 PM
Dear Don Fitzgerald:
Sorry, but most of the rabid posting and hiding under various names has been done under your brethren, the Misfit Members of the Loony Left.
On the logical and rational right, Bruce is Bruce, Terry is Terry, and I've been John D from the beginning. And because I do use my real name, I have been investigated, hounded, sent foul letters in the mail, and had Deranged Loons on the Left post as my coworkers and bosses.
In other words, before casting stones, Don, take a look at your ilk. That is where the house cleaning needs to take place!
Posted by: John D | March 12, 2010 2:52 PM