Questions About Massa Emerge

DIANE SAWYER (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) And in political Washington tonight, Democrats on Capitol Hill capping a bad week have to be saying thank heaven this is Friday. The latest Democratic congressman Eric Massa from upstate New York announced he is quitting his seat under a cloud of harassment allegations. What does this mean for the Democratic Party and the future? Here’s Jon Karl.
JONATHAN KARL (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) Nancy Pelosi made a bold promise the night Democrats won control of Congress.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI (DEMOCRAT
The Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history.
JONATHAN KARL (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) By that measure, this has been a dreadful week for Democrats. Today, it was Democratic Congressman Eric Massa, announcing he is quitting Congress as he comes under investigation for sexually harassing two male aides.
REPRESENTATIVE ERIC MASSA (DEMOCRAT
Do I use salty language? Yep. And I’ve tried to do better.
JONATHAN KARL (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) Earlier in the week, it was Charlie Rangel.
REPRESENTATIVE CHARLES RANGEL (DEMOCRAT
I have sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi asking her to grant me a leave of absence.
JONATHAN KARL (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) The power chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee was forced to resign amid allegations of unpaid taxes, illegal gifts and shady fund-raising. Democrats are scrambling to return campaign contributions from Rangel, more than $400,000 so far.
RICK KLEIN (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) It has just been an avalanche of tough revelations. Story after story with ethical lapses, with scandals all over the place.

Read more: (Jonathan Karl, “Ethics Questions,” ABC News, 03/05/10)