House quietly probed prior staffer sex tape filmed in Capitol: report

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The House of Representatives discreetly probed explicit footage filmed inside the Capitol by a lawmaker’s staffer in June 2022 — more than a year before video of a Senate aide having sex in a hearing room surfaced this month, according to a new report.

The June 2022 investigation began after allegations of “purported, unbecoming behavior” by a senior staffer in Rep. Dan Newhouse’s office emerged, a spokesperson for the congressman told Semafor.

But “no conclusive evidence” of wrongdoing was found, and the staffer reportedly said he left the Washington state Republican’s office on good terms for an unrelated reason and another job this fall, according to the outlet.

The salacious report surfaced Wednesday — just days after Democratic Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin announced aide Aiden Maese-Czeropski no longer had a job in his office after the 24-year-old was accused of posting a video online of himself having sex with another man.

The US Capitol Police launched a probe into potential criminal violations soon after the video became public this weekend.

But it’s not the first investigation conducted into caught-on-tape sex at the Capitol after the separate set of videos appeared on Snapchat in 2022, Semafor reported.

Allegations against a senior staffer in Rep. Dan Newhouse’s office emerged in a June 2022 investigation discreetly launched by the House Republicans. AP

One of the videos viewed by the outlet showed a man masturbating inside a House office building. Capitol House furniture and carpeting were visible, and a person taping the sex act held a branded congressional mouse pad.

Another screenshot viewed by Semafor included two men taking part in a sex act inside an office, though their faces are not visible.

Newhouse’s office was notified that a suspected participant in the videos was on his staff.

“As soon as the office was alerted, we immediately contacted the appropriate House entities to conduct an independent investigation,” the office reportedly said without further comment. 

One of the videos viewed by the outlet showed a man masturbating inside a House office building. Capitol House furniture and carpeting were visible, and a person taping the sex act held a branded congressional mouse pad. REUTERS
Newhouse’s office was notified that a suspected participant in the videos was on his staff. Rep. Dan Newhouse/Facebook

The staffer, who was not identified, told Semafor he was not in the salacious videos and also challenged Newhouse’s characterization of the events.

He said he found out about the probe in June 2022 and was told a month later it concluded with “no evidence to the allegation.”

DC was rocked over the weekend when video of Maese-Czeropski having sex in the same room where senators have questioned future Supreme Court justices and ex-FBI leader James Comey once testified about alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election emerged.

Cardin said after the news broke that he was “angry” and “disappointed” in his ex-aide’s lewd actions.

US Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) talks to Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) during the House’s recent election for Speaker of the House on Oct. 20, 2023. Getty Images

“It’s a breach of trust, all of the above,” he told Fox News.

“It’s a tragic situation and it’s presented a lot of anger and frustration. I’m concerned about our staff and the way that they feel about this and the Senate staff.”

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