WASHINGTON, March 5 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Eric Massa, D-N.Y., will resign his seat Monday, just days after announcing he would not seek re-election, his office said Friday.
When he announced his retirement Wednesday, Massa, a cancer survivor, denied published reports the House ethics panel was investigating allegations of sexual harassment of a male staffer. However, the committee confirmed it has begun an inquiry into the allegations, The Hill reported Friday.
Massa's district includes a swath of western New York and leans slightly Republican. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., carried the district in the 2008 presidential election, The Washington Post reported. Massa is one of seven retiring House Democrats who represent districts won by McCain in 2008.
Massa's resignation could trigger a special election in New York, the Post said. Under state law, New York Gov. David Paterson must issue a proclamation declaring the seat vacant, then set a special election date no later than 40 days after the proclamation. However, the law doesn't provide a specific timetable for when Paterson must declare the seat vacant, meaning he could possibly wait several months and have the seat filled in the November election.
The House Ethics Committee issued a line statement saying it appointed a subcommittee to look into Massa, but did not specify what the allegations involve.
