More harassment allegations against Eric Massa revealed

Pattern of behavior that led to congressman's resignation reportedly goes way back

Published March 10, 2010 9:45PM (EST)

Former Rep. Eric Massa, D-N.Y., made a number of bad decisions when he was interviewed by Glenn Beck on Tuesday. Among them was talking about his career in the Navy.

"I should have never allowed myself to be as familiar with my staff as I was. I never translated from my days in the Navy to being a congressman," Massa said. Then he pulled out a photo of a "crossing the line" ceremony, and compared the scene to "an orgy in Caligula."

Less than 24 hours later, the Atlantic's Joshua Green reported on allegations of sexual harassment against Massa from his days in the Navy. These new details fit the pattern of the allegations that led to the congressman's decision to resign from the House.

"Massa was notorious for making unwanted advances toward subordinates," Green reports. He goes on to recount stories of Massa giving other men what he called "Massa Massages," of Massa "groping" a sleeping subordinate, of a shipmate of Massa's waking up "to Massa undoing his pants trying to snorkel him."

Green also reports that the House ethics committee was notified of the congressman's behavior during his Navy days shortly before he decided to resign.


By Alex Koppelman

Alex Koppelman is a staff writer for Salon.

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