The U.S. Capitol Police said Thursday they will not pursue criminal charges against the Democratic congressional aide who recorded a sex tape in a Senate hearing room.
“For now, we are closing the investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding a sex video that was recorded inside the Hart Senate Office Building on the morning of Wednesday, December 13,” Capitol Police said in a statement.
Aidan Maese-Czeropski, a former legislative aide to Sen. Ben Cardin (D., Md.), was fired on Dec. 16 after reports emerged that he published photos and videos of himself participating in gay sex in a Senate hearing room. Capitol Police said Thursday the Democratic aide “likely” violated congressional policy but that “there is currently no evidence that a crime was committed.”
Capitol Police said the 24-year-old staffer was allowed to access the hearing room where he filmed the lewd footage, which influenced the decision not to press charges. The “two people of interest” also refused to cooperate with investigators, Capitol Police said.
“Our investigators are willing to review new evidence should any come to light,” Capitol Police said in the statement.
In a since-deleted LinkedIn post, Maese-Czeropski addressed, but did not apologize for, the incident. “While some of my actions in the past have shown poor judgment, I love my job and would never disrespect my workplace,” the ex-staffer said. “Any attempts to characterize my actions otherwise are fabricated and I will be exploring what legal options are available to me in these matters.”
The Senate sex tape scandal came just months after cocaine was discovered in the White House. Similarly, no charges were ever filed as federal agents closed the investigation in July without identifying a suspect, even after reviewing visitor logs and extensive surveillance footage.
