Democratic Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland was put on the spot on Monday when questioned about a former staff member who was identified as a participant in a gay sex video shot in a Senate meeting room. In response, the senator was hesitant to discuss personnel matters and gave a halting response when asked about the situation.
When asked about the incident, Senator Cardin stated that he was not at liberty to discuss personnel matters and the steps taken by his office to handle the situation. He also mentioned that he personally had not been contacted by the Capitol Police, who have opened an investigation into the incident.
Reporters pressed Senator Cardin about his connection with the former staff member, but he simply stated, “I know all my staff personally… I’m not going to get into my relationship with the staffer.”
Despite the authenticity of the video, Senator Cardin said that would be determined by investigators, reiterating that he did not have any specific knowledge about the incident. He also expressed his anger and disappointment over the breach of trust and the impact it has had on his staff and the Senate as a whole.
The Hill reported that Senator Cardin said he had not spoken to his former staff member and did not mention any apology from the individual. However, he did mention that the situation has caused him a lot of frustration and concern for his staff.
In response to questions from CNN, Senator Cardin’s office referred them to a statement posted by the former staff member on LinkedIn. In his statement, the individual expressed remorse for his actions and love for his job, but also stated that he is exploring legal options as he feels he has been attacked for his sexual orientation.
As the situation continues to unfold, Senator Cardin remains firm in his stance on not discussing personnel matters but has made it clear that he is taking the incident seriously and is closely monitoring the investigation by the Capitol Police.
Cardin on the staffer: pic.twitter.com/fstAqdBn2h
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 18, 2023
In conclusion, Senator Cardin has been put in a difficult position with regards to the former staff member and the incident that took place in the Senate meeting room. While he is refraining from discussing personnel matters, he has expressed his disappointment and anger over the breach of trust and the impact it has had on his staff and the Senate. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold and what steps will be taken to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.