Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) lamented what he called a “breach of trust” on Monday in response to the gay sex tape controversy that has rocked his office over the past week.
Reporters peppered the lawmaker with questions about the staffer who got fired after the emergence of a video showing a man, alleged to be one of Cardin’s employees, having gay sex inside a Senate committee hearing room.
Cardin said he was “disappointed” and “angry,” according to multiple journalists.
“It’s a breach of trust,” Cardin also said. “It’s my understanding Capitol Police is doing the investigation. It’s a personnel issue. So, we clearly will be — I’m not going to comment on the personnel issue and it’s under investigation.”
Cardin on the staffer: pic.twitter.com/fstAqdBn2h
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Cardin declined to speculate on how the staffer gained access to the hearing room and whether there will be charges.
The senator’s office previously confirmed to POLITICO that Aidan Maese-Czeropski, a legislative aide to Cardin, was “no longer employed” by the Senate after The Daily Caller published video from the sex tape on December 15.
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Cardin insisted to reporters that “appropriate steps” were taken from the standpoint of his office after he became aware of the situation.
In a statement posted to social media, Maese-Czeropski said, “I have been attacked for who I love to pursue a political agenda. While some of my actions in the past have shown poor judgment, I love my job and would never disrespect my workplace.”
A source reportedly told the Daily Caller that the video was filmed in Hart Senate Office Building Room 216, known as the location where the 9/11 Commission presented its findings, Supreme Court nominees have testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and more.
Capitol Police told The Hill that as of Monday evening it was “still investigating” the incident and had no further updates to share.
Cardin, who was first elected to the Senate in 2006, announced in May that he would not seek re-election in 2024. He took on the role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in September after its previous chairman, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), “temporarily” stepped down while contending with criminal charges.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who is also planning to retire from the Senate at the end of next year, reportedly quipped to journalists staking out Cardin to “leave that beautiful man alone.”