New Allegations in Mahoney Sex Scandal
Document: Rep. Allegedly Used Mistress as "Tease" for Big Donors
By RHONDA SCHWARTZ and EMMA SCHWARTZ
October 24, 2008—
Current and former members of the staff of Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-Fla) say he has yet to come completely clean about his multiple affairs, abusive behavior and alleged ethical lapses.
Last week, following a series of reports on The Blotter, Mahoney confirmed that he had hired one of his mistresses for his Congressional staff and that he was also carrying on an affair with a Florida county official who sought his help with a federal grant.
But a document obtained by ABC News reveals new allegations of threatening behavior and sexual harassment toward a female staffer, that go far beyond Mahoney's public confession, including claims that he urged one of his mistresses to serve as a "tease" for big donors.
The former Congressional staff member, Patricia Allen, was paid $121,000 by Mahoney after she was fired and threatened to sue.
Click here to hear the tape of Mahoney firing Allen.
The settlement was reached after Allen hired a lawyer who sent the Congressman a "demand" letter, listing specific examples of Mahoney's alleged "gross misconduct" and "stalking" including:
"a) Calling Allen late in the evenings and demanding "phone sex;"
b) Demanding that Allen answer his calls or face termination;
c) Demanding that Allen attend fundraisers and "tease c-ck" to bring in more donations from the male members of the public;
d) Demanding that Allen engage in sexual conduct with another woman for his enjoyment."
Current and former staffers told ABC News the allegations contained in the "demand letter" sent to Mahoney were backed up by tape recordings of phone calls between the Congressman and Allen.
Ethics Investigation
The House ethics committee has instructed Mahoney's congressional staff to preserve all documents and e-mails as part of an investigation into Mahoney's conduct requested by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
And as previously reported on The Blotter the FBI has been begun questioning Mahoney's staffers, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Mahoney told reporters he has done nothing illegal and intends to cooperate fully with investigators.
(Click here to watch Rep. Mahoney explain why he's staying in the race.)
Meanwhile this week Mahoney resumed campaigning, meeting with newspaper editors in Florida to ask their "forgiveness", saying despite his personal problems he's been a good congressman for Monroe County. Mahoney is scheduled to debate his Republican opponent Friday afternoon at the Forum Club in West Palm Beach.