Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) has said he feels betrayed by the since-fired staffer who filmed himself having sex in a congressional office building.
“I’m angry, disappointed,” the 80-year-old lawmaker told Fox News late Monday in her first comments about 24-year-old aide Aidan Maese-Czeropski, who admitted to the lewd session while crying as a victim.
“It’s a breach of trust, all of the above,” he continued.
“It’s a tragic situation and it’s caused a lot of anger and frustration. I am concerned about our staff and how they feel about this and the Senate staff.”
Cardin said he only learned about the video — which was recorded in a locked hearing room in the Hart Senate Office Building, where Supreme Court nominees are grilled by senators — over the weekend.
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“When I found out about it, [I] make sure he’s separated,” Cardin said of the staff he previously announced had been fired.
“He is leaving the Senate job and the appropriate steps have been taken from the point of view of our office.”
The senator remains confused about how Maese-Czeropski — who appeared in a 2020 campaign ad with President Biden — accessed the historic room for her indecent footage.
It remains unclear how Maese-Czeropski got into the room for the lewd act.
He declined to say how well he knew the staffer, calling it a personnel issue — but said his office was “absolutely” cooperating with Capitol Police investigating the incident.
The former staffer admitted he had “shown poor judgement” making the film, but complained that he was the victim of inappropriate attacks from those angry at his on-camera sex sessions.
Senator Ben Cardin said he was “outraged” and “disappointed” when he learned that a staffer had filmed himself having sex in a congressional office building. Reuters
“I have been attacked for people I love to pursue a political agenda,” he wrote. “I love my job and will never disrespect my workplace.”
No charges have yet been filed against Maese-Czeropski, but experts say she may have opened herself up to legal trouble.
“Staff have access to such rooms, but the question is whether this unofficial use would constitute a trespass,” attorney and George Washington University Law professor Jonathan Turley wrote on his website.
Aidan Maese-Czeropski, 24, was fired from his job after the video surfaced. Aidan Maese-Czeropski/Linkedin
“It also uses official areas for personal purposes, although it is unclear whether there is any commercial benefit derived from videos found on various websites.”
The main question is whether Maese-Czeropski entered the room on official Senate business, he said.
Also critical to possible charges is whether explicit actions in a locked Senate chamber are considered “in public,” according to Turley.
Gay sex reportedly took place in the same room where nominees to the Supreme Court were being grilled by senators. Annabelle Gordon – CNP
The legal scholar also weighed in on whether charges could be brought under 18 USC 641, which involves improper use of public property.
“The Capitol Police could argue that this is theft or using government property for personal gain,” Turley surmised.
“The key factor is the fact that this videotape was made with the express intention of publishing or showing it to others. Sex in congressional offices — by both members and staff — has long been known to happen on Capitol Hill. However, this was a public hearing room, albeit closed at the time, and tapes were made of what appeared to be public viewing.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
