Just 18 months before a gay sex scandal filmed in a Senate staffer's office rocked Washington, a congressman launched an investigation to find out whether explicit videos had been made in their workplace.
Senator Ben Cardin has expressed disappointment over reports that a now-former staffer participated in filmed sexual activity in a Senate hearing room.
The Maryland senator spoke two days later Democrat Congress assistant Aidan Maese-Czeropski, 24, was dismissed about the emergence of the tape – which was reportedly filmed in Room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building.
Representative Dan Newhouse — a Washington state Republican who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump — confirmed reports on Wednesday that a similar investigation into sex acts took place in a congressional office in June 2022.
A spokesperson for Newhouse said they have found “no conclusive evidence” of what they called “alleged improper conduct” involving an employee after a Snapchat story created by an account known as “Adam J” with the handle “Anjackson2019 ' circulated on the app. last year.
Representative Dan Newhouse — a Washington state Republican who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump — confirmed reports on Wednesday that a similar investigation into sex acts took place in a congressional office in June 2022.
One of the videos allegedly showed a man pleasuring himself in a House office building, identified by standard Capitol House furniture and carpeting, as well as a branded mouse pad.
A second video shows two men engaging in sexual activity in another office setting. Their faces are not visible.
The anonymous male employee denied participating in illegal recordings Semafor.
Newhouse's aide said the investigation was completed within a month. Newhouse allegedly told him there was “no evidence to support the allegation.”
The employee left Newhouse's office in the fall of that year to work outside Washington, DC.
“As soon as the office was alerted, we immediately contacted the appropriate House entities to conduct an independent investigation,” Newhouse's spokesperson said.
The original video shows an explicit sex act between two men and was reportedly leaked after it was “shared in a private group for gay men in politics.”
Although it was not confirmed that he was one of the men, Maese-Czeropski was publicly linked to the Congressional hearing and is no longer employed by the Senate. In a social media post, he admitted he had shown “poor judgment.”
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Senator Ben Cardin expressed disappointment Monday evening over reports that a now-former staffer had participated in filmed sexual activity in a Senate hearing room
The video shows an explicit sexual act between two men and was reportedly leaked after it was 'shared in a private group for gay men in politics'
The Maryland senator spoke two days after his longtime congressional aide Aidan Maese-Czeropski, 24, was fired over the tapes' release
Contacted Monday evening for the first time since Capitol Police launched a full-fledged investigation, the 80-year-old Democrat said he was “terribly angry” and “disappointed” by the messages.
“It is my understanding that the Capitol Police are investigating,” Cardin told reporters Monday evening, saying his office is “absolutely” cooperating with law enforcement.
“My knowledge of this was over the weekend,” Cardin added, as the scandal continues to roil the House.
“When I heard about it, I made sure he was separated,” he continued, without mentioning Czeropski by name.
He also expressed confusion that the staffer — who appeared in a 2020 campaign video with Joe Biden — had somehow booked the room, but reiterated that he is no longer at his office.
“He has left the Senate job and from our office's perspective the right steps have been taken,” said the veteran official who plans to retire after this term.
When asked to go into detail about how well he knew the employee, Cardin declined, claiming it was a personnel issue.
Asked how he felt when he first heard the news – first reported by the Daily Caller – Cardin admitted: “I was angry. I was disappointed.'
Asked how he felt when he first heard the news of the ill-advised amateur film in Hart Senate Office Building Room 216, Cardin admitted, “I was angry. I was disappointed.'
Hours before the story broke, reports surfaced that an unnamed Cardin staffer had posted a photo on social media of himself naked in a Hart hearing room.
Cardin expressed confusion Monday that the employee — who appeared in a 2020 campaign video with Joe Biden (seen here) — had somehow booked the room, but reiterated that he is no longer in the office.
He labeled the ill-advised film as 'a breach of trust'.
'It's a breach of trust. All of the above,” Cardin said. 'It is a tragic situation that brings a lot of anger and frustration. “I'm concerned about our staff and the way they feel about this and the Senate staff.”
The scandal, meanwhile, first broke on Friday, when The Caller published the clip showing the blurred faces of the two men having sex in room 216.
Steeped in history, the venue has hosted several high-profile hearings over the years.
It was the site of a series of Supreme Court confirmation hearings that helped shape America's legal landscape, and it was the location for the 9/11 Commission.
But last week it was the setting for something much less stately: a dirty sex scene filmed from the POV of one of the participants.
The clip quickly made the rounds on social media, and people quickly began labeling Czeropski — who Cardin indicated Monday has not yet apologized — as responsible. These claims, Capitol Police have since confirmed, remain unproven.
Hours later, on Friday evening, Maese-Czeropski posted a message on his now private LinkedIn stating that while he had shown “poor judgment,” he would “never disrespect my workplace.”
Hours later, on Friday evening, Maese-Czeropski posted a message on his now private LinkedIn stating that while he had shown “poor judgment,” he would “never disrespect my workplace.” He was fired on Friday
“This has been a difficult time for me as I have been attacked because of who I like to pursue a political agenda,” the statement said.
“Although some of my past actions have demonstrated poor judgment, I love my job and would never disrespect my workplace.
“Any attempts to otherwise characterize my actions are fabricated and I will explore what legal options are available to me in these matters.”
Contacted by DailyMail.com On Saturday morning, Maese-Czeropski's mother, Magdalena Rivera Maese, said her son had been left distraught by the scandal.
“You don't want to know how he is doing,” Maese said in an interview.
On Monday evening, Capitol Police said in a statement to DailyMail.com that they were “still investigating” the sex tape and that there was “nothing new to report” at this point in their investigation.
Hours before the caller told the story, the Onlooker reported that an unnamed Cardin staffer had posted a photo on social media of himself naked in a Hart hearing room.
These reports are unsubstantiated as Capitol Police continue to investigate.
Cardin's office, meanwhile, released the following statement on Friday, citing a plethora of reports from “right-wing” media.
“As this is a personnel matter and is under investigation, we will have no further comment at this time,” the office said.
Cardin, meanwhile, announced his retirement in May at the end of his current term. As for Maese-Czeropski, he did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's attempts to contact him.