May not seek reelection ?  If this were a republican they'd be calling 
for his head..


==========================

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/1008/Mahoney_may_not_seek_reelect
ion.html

October 15, 2008
Categories: Campaigns

Mahoney may not seek reelection

Embattled Democratic Rep. Tim Mahoney may not seek reelection in Florida 
next month after ABC News broke a story earlier this week that the 
congressman had paid a former aide to keep quiet about their alleged 
affair, according to a Democratic leadership aide with ties to his 
campaign.

Mahoney, first elected to the House in 2006, is facing allegations that 
he paid $121,000 to a former aide, Patricia Allen, that he had allegedly 
had an affair with. Allen threatned to sue Mahoney for sexual harassment 
after she was fired, and Mahoney has admitted to using personal funds to 
cover a settlement with Allen and her lawyers. The allegations about 
Mahoney were first reported by ABC News.

The network has also reported Mahoney allegedly had a second affair with 
an official in Martin County, Florida.

Mahoney's re-election campaign did not have a comment on his possible 
retirement at press time.

Mahoney has asked the House ethics committee to investigate the matter, 
and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has also called on the panel to look 
into the issue.

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House GOP leaders are 
attempting to turn the scandal into a broader conspiracy similar to the 
one that brought down former Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.), who represented 
the same district. Foley's political career ended when it was reported 
in Oct. 2006 - also by ABC News - that he had been having improper 
communications with teenage male pages who worked on the House floor. 
Republican leaders, including then Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and 
his top aides were aware of Foley's contacts with the pages but took no 
action.

Reps. Chris Van Hollen (Md.) and Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), respectively the 
chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and House 
Democratic Caucus, were aware of rumors about Mahoney's relationship 
with Allen and confronted him about the issue. Pelosi, for her part, 
said she knew nothing of the situation until ABC News broke the Mahoney 
story.

Mahoney has issued a public apology to his family for the scandal, but 
has denied any illegal behavior.

The AP reported on Wednesday that the FBI has begun a preliminary 
investigation into Mahoney's settlement with Allen. The Palm Beach Post 
reported this afternoon that protestors had gathered outside his office, 
calling on him to resign.

CMPQwk 1.42-21 9999 
Democrats --  The party of economic destruction ....


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