Senate staffer fired after sex tape leak says he was targeted because he is gay

Senate staffer fired after sex tape leak says he was targeted because he is gay

Following the widespread leak of a sex tape filmed in a hearing room last week, a legislative aide to U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin has left his job as a Senate staffer.

According to a Saturday report from Politico, portions of a cellphone video published by The Daily Caller on Friday show two men engaging in sexual activity in Hart Senate Office Building Room 216, the room used by the Senate Judiciary Committee. While the American Spectator previously identified one of the men as a staffer for Cardin, neither the American Spectator nor the Daily Caller identified the staffer.

Cardin’s office released a statement Saturday saying that aide Aidan Maese-Czeropski has left his job.

“Aidan Maese-Czeropski is no longer employed by the U.S. Senate. We will have no further comment on this personnel matter,” Cardin’s office said in a statement Saturday.

In an email Monday, the senator’s office emphasized that they had no further comment.

The room has served as the backdrop of a series of historical happenings, including U.S. Supreme Court nomination hearings.

According to Politico, Maese-Czeropski posted a statement to his LinkedIn account Friday alleging that he was attacked for being gay “to pursue a political agenda,” and that he planned to look into what legal recourse is available to him.

As of Monday afternoon, Maese-Czeropski’s post was deleted and his account appeared to be deactivated.

Maese-Czeropski could not be reached for comment.

According to a congressional staff handbook on the U.S. Senate employment office website, a legislative aide meets with constituents and agency staff, and assists lawmakers in preparation for hearings and other legislative meetings.

Cardin, who has a career spanning more than 60 years in Maryland politics, announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection in 2024.

_____

©2023 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.