A junior aide to Sen. Ben Cardin, identified in news reports linking him to a sex tape filmed in a Capitol Hill hearing room, is no longer employed by the Senate, according to Cardin’s office. The explicit video, published by the Daily Caller, depicted two men engaging in sexual activity in the Hart Senate Office Building hearing room. While the reports did not initially name the staffer, conservative outlets later identified him as Aidan Maese-Czeropski, a legislative aide to Sen. Cardin.
Aide’s Departure and Response
Following the publication of the explicit tape, Cardin’s office initially referred to it as a “personnel matter” without further comment. However, on Saturday, the office confirmed Maese-Czeropski’s departure, stating that he is “no longer employed by the U.S. Senate.” The office added that there would be no further comments on the matter.
In response to the allegations, Maese-Czeropski posted a statement on LinkedIn, acknowledging the difficulty of the situation and denying accusations of workplace disrespect. He mentioned exploring legal options in response to what he characterized as attacks on his personal life for political reasons.
Previous Work and Allegations
Maese-Czeropski had been employed by Cardin since October 2021 and had previously worked as an intern for Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 2018, according to congressional records. Apart from the explicit video, he also faced allegations of accosting Rep. Max Miller in the Capitol, with Miller claiming Maese-Czeropski told him, “Free Palestine.” Maese-Czeropski denied this accusation separately.
Capitol Police and Leadership Responses
U.S. Capitol Police have not confirmed whether an investigation is underway, and both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to comment on the matter.
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