Mystery Money: Massa Gave Aide $40K

Then-Rep. Eric Massa used a campaign account to pay $40,000 to his chief of staff – a central figure in the story of allegations that Massa sexually harassed his aides – just before resigning his western New York House seat early last month, according to federal campaign finance records.
The lump-sum payment to Joe Racalto was made March 4, the day before Massa, a New York Democrat, formally submitted his resignation to the House. It was marked as a “campaign management fee” and is the only significant payment Massa’s campaign has made to Racalto since the lawmaker was sworn in to office in January 2009.
Racalto’s attorney, Camilla McKinney, said Friday that her client had filed a sexual harassment claim against the New York Democrat.

Read more: (Jonathan Allen, “Mystery Money: Massa Gave Aide $40K,” Politico, 04/16/10)