Two Guys Having Sex In An Office at The Capital, I Mean “THAT” Capital

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By now, you’ve undoubtedly heard the news that has rocked gay social media: a congressional staffer reportedly filmed himself having sex with another man in a hearing room. Initially published on Friday, December 15 by right-wing media outlet The Daily Caller, the video showed two men engaging in sexual conduct in what appears to be the Judiciary room in the Hart Senate Office Building. Details about the incident have been unfolding rapidly. Read on for all you need to know.

Wait, they did what in a Senate hearing room?

Yes, a video has leaked of two men having sex in a Senate hearing room. The room in question is reportedly Room 216 in the Hart Senate Office Building, according to The Daily Caller, which initially posted the clip on Friday evening.

Who was in the video of the Senate hearing room sex?

Several conservative media outlets, including the New York Post and Washington Examiner, identified one of the men in the video as Aidan Maese-Czeropski. Until this weekend, Maese-Czeropski was a legislative aide for Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland). On Saturday morning, Cardin’s office said in a statement to Politico that Maese-Czeropski was “no longer employed by the U.S. Senate.”

What else has Senator Ben Cardin said?

Cardin's office's initial statement said they had no further comment on the “personnel matter." But on Monday, Cardin told CBS News that he was “angry” and “disappointed,” and called the incident “a breach of trust.” "It's a tragic situation, and it's presented a lot of anger and frustration,” the senator said. “I'm concerned about our staff and the way that they feel about this," Cardin added that he was not aware of any prior disciplinary issues with Maese-Czeropski, and that he had not talked to the former aide since the incident. He also shared that Capitol Police are investigating, though he didn't specify which aspect of the case they are looking into.

How was the Senate hearing room sex tape leaked?

The video was reportedly posted in a private group chat for gay men in politics, according to The Daily Caller, which reviewed the chat and posted the video.

Why else has Maese-Czeropski been in the news?

Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) told the Daily Caller that on Wednesday of last week, a Congressional staffer confronted him in a hallway, shouting “Free Palestine” at him. On Friday afternoon shortly before the Daily Caller broke the sex tape news, the outlet reported that Miller identified Maese-Czeropski as the person who shouted at him. (Miller, who held positions in the Trump administration, is a staunch supporter of Israel and the country’s bombardment of Gaza, going so far as to introduce a measure to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib for her pro-Palestine comments.)

 

Maese-Czeropski has denied the accusation, saying in a post on LinkedIn that he has “never seen the congressman and had no opportunity or cause to yell or confront him.”

Has Maese-Czeropski said anything else about the incident?

In a statement posted to LinkedIn on Saturday, Maese-Czeropski neither confirmed nor denied that he appeared in the video. “This has been a difficult time for me, as I have been attacked for who I love to pursue a political agenda,” Maese-Czeropski said. “While some of my actions in the past have shown poor judgment, I love my job and would never disrespect my workplace.” He added that he would be “exploring what legal options are available to me in these matters.”

In the District of Columbia, posting pornographic material without the consent of the involved parties carries a variety of penalties, ranging from misdemeanor to felony charges.