AP Sources: Massa, already retiring, plans to resign effective Monday

AP Sources: Massa to resign under ethics cloud

WASHINGTON — New York Democratic Rep. Eric Massa, the subject of a harassment complaint by a male staffer, is stepping down from his seat, The Associated Press has learned.

Knowledgable Democratic officials told AP that Massa, who has announced he will not seek reelection due to a recurrance of cancer, is resigning his seat, effective Monday.

Massa’s resignation comes as the House ethics panel was reviewing a harassment complaint by a male staffer who reportedly felt uncomfortable in a situation with Massa that had sexual overtones.

Massa, who had initially dismissed the rumors, will resign effective Monday evening, according to three Democratic officials with knowledge of his plans. They spoke on condition of anonymity because no formal announcement had yet been made.

The ethics committee issued a brief statement Thursday saying it is “investigating and gathering additional information concerning matters related to allegations involving” Massa.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Wednesday that he was told the week of Feb. 8 by a staff member in Massa’s office about allegations of misconduct. Hoyer directed Massa to report the allegations to the House ethics committee within 48 hours. Hoyer said he got confirmation within that time frame that the committee received the report and would review the allegations.

Massa, who is married, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1996. He was elected in 2008, defeating Republican Rep. Randy Kuhl.

The 29th district in the southwestern corner of New York has been dominated by Republicans since the party’s founding in 1854. It’s a largely agricultural district the size of Connecticut.

Citing his cancer, Massa, 50, said Wednesday he would retire at the end of his term. During a conference phone call with reporters that day, Massa dismissed a Politico story that cited unidentified House aides in reporting that the congressman had been accused of harassing a staffer.

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Associated Press writers Andrew Miga and Liz Sidoti contributed to this report.