Embattled former Rep. Eric Massa sat down for his much-anticipated Fox News interview Tuesday night and deployed the tickle defense.
No. Really.
Asked by Glenn Beck whether he had inappropriate sexual contact with any staff members, the New York Democrat said, "No - no, no, no."
But asked minutes later about a new report that said he has been under investigation for allegations that he groped multiple male staffers working in his office, the 24-year Navy veteran scoffed.
"Now they're saying I groped a male staffer. Yeah, I did. Not only did I grope him, I tickled him until he couldn't breathe. And then four guys jumped on top of me. It was my 50th birthday. It was 'Kill the old guy.' This was in a town house. We all lived together, all the bachelors and me," said the married father of two.
At Minute 50, a frustrated Mr. Beck asked a question that many of his viewers were likely wondering: "Is there another shoe that's going to drop?"
Mr. Massa fell back into defensive mode. "People will say anything at this point."
Mr. Beck homed in. "Are there Tiger Woods phone calls that are going to happen, or text messages?"
In the show's most newsworthy moment, Mr. Massa said frankly of his interactions with staff members: "I'm sure there are text messages because we bantered back and forth all the time."
Text messages!
