Massa Sexual Harassment Allegations Under Review

Allegations that Rep. Eric Massa of New York sexually harassed a male staffer are under review by the House Ethics Committee, two days after the first-term Democrat announced he would not run for reelection, citing health considerations.

Capitol Hill sources confirmed the early stages of the investigation to the Buffalo News.

"The sources, who asked not to be identified, confirmed that a male Massa staffer had complained about comments the congressman allegedly made that the aide perceived as sexually suggestive," reported the Buffalo News. "The House ethics committee is interviewing members of the congressman's staff as it tries to determine the veracity of the allegations, the sources said."

News of the investigation surfaced Wednesday, but Massa, who is married with children, insisted that his retirement was related to the reemergence of a cancer scare. He is a survivor of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.