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Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) has said he feels betrayed by the since-fired staffer who filmed himself having sex in a congressional office building.
“I was angry, disappointed,” the 80-year-old lawmaker told Fox News late Monday in his first comments about 24-year-old aide Aidan Maese-Czeropski, who admitted the raunchy session while crying about being a victim.
“It’s a breach of trust, all of the above,” he continued.
“It’s a tragic situation and it’s presented a lot of anger and frustration. I’m concerned about our staff and the way that they feel about this and the Senate staff.”
Cardin said he only learned about the video — which was filmed inside a locked hearing room at the Hart Senate Office Building, where nominees to the Supreme Court are grilled by senators — over the weekend.
“When I learned about it, (I) made sure that he was separated,” Cardin said of the staffer he previously announced had been fired.
“He left the Senate employment and the appropriate steps were taken from the point of view of our office.”
The senator remains confused as to how Maese-Czeropski — who appeared in a 2020 campaign ad with President Biden — accessed the historic room for his raunchy recording.
He refused to say how well he knew the staffer, calling it a personnel issue — but said his office is “absolutely” cooperating with Capitol Police investigating the incident.
The former staffer admitted he had “shown poor judgment” making the film, but complained that he was the victim of unwarranted attacks from those outraged at his on-camera sex session.
“I have been attacked for who I love to pursue a political agenda,” he wrote. “I love my job and would never disrespect my workplace.”
No charges have yet been filed against Maese-Czeropski, but experts say he may have exposed himself to legal trouble.
“Staffers have access into such rooms, but the question is whether this unofficial use would constitute trespass,” attorney and George Washington University Law professor Jonathan Turley wrote on his website.
“It also uses an official area for personal purposes, though it is not clear if there were any commercial benefits garnered from the video found on various sites.”
The key question is whether Maese-Czeropski entered the room on official Senate business, he said.
Also key to potential charges would be whether the explicit acts in the locked Senate room are deemed to be “in public,” according to Turley.
The legal scholar also opined on whether charges could be brought under 18 U.S.C. 641, which involves the improper use of public property.
“The Capitol Police could argue that this constitutes purloining or using government property for personal purposes,” Turley surmised.
“The key factor is the fact that this videotape was made with the apparent intent to publish or show others. Sex in congressional offices — by both members and staff — have long been known to occur on Capitol Hill. Yet, this was a public hearing room, albeit closed at the time, and a tape made for what appears public viewing.”