No charges are expected against people who were filmed having sex inside a U.S. Capitol building, police said on Feb. 1.
“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,” a U.S. Capitol Police spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email.
Officers consulted with federal and local prosecutors and completed a comprehensive investigation.
“It was determined that—despite a likely violation of Congressional policy—there is currently no evidence that a crime was committed,” the spokesperson said.
The video was filmed in 2023 by a staffer for Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.). Mr. Cardin, who said he was angry over the development, later fired Aidan Maese-Czeropski, the staffer.
“We will have no further comment on this personnel matter,” Mr. Cardin’s office said in a statement to news outlets.
Mr. Maese-Czeropski, who could not be reached, said in a LinkedIn post: “I have been attacked for who I love to pursue a political agenda.”
He wrote: “While some of my actions in the past have shown poor judgement, I love my job and would never disrespect my workplace. Any attempts to characterize my actions otherwise are fabricated and I will be exploring what legal options are available to me in these matters.”
Mr. Maese-Czeropski later deleted his LinkedIn profile.
He previously worked for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), appeared in a 2020 campaign video for President Joe Biden, and was part of Friends of the Earth.
“Engages with diverse coalition groups, including various Native American tribes and dozens of congressional offices, to analyze the effects of local pollution problems,” the LinkedIn profile stated, describing his work for the latter. “Authored research papers on the socioeconomic effects of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as part of a team that successfully lobbied for the cancellation of oil lease sales.”
According to the Daily Caller, which obtained the video in question, the video showed two men having sex in the room. The video was circulated in a private group “for gay men in politics,” the outlet reported.
Mr. Cardin’s office has said it wasn’t sure whether the staffer had booked the room in question.
The U.S. Capitol Police spokesperson said the hearing room was not open to the public when the individuals entered, but that the congressional staffer involved did have access to it.
“The two people of interest were not cooperative, nor were the elements of any of the possible crimes met. The Congressional staffer, who has since resigned from his job, exercised his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and refused to talk to us. Our investigators are willing to review new evidence should any come to light,” the spokesperson said.
‘Free Palestine’?
Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) also identified Mr. Maese-Czeropski as the congressional staffer who confronted him on Capitol grounds and said, “Free Palestine.”The incident was witnessed by an NBC reporter, though the reporter did not name the staffer.
Mr. Miller, who is Jewish, said he did not react.
In his social media post, Mr. Maese-Czeropski denied confronting Mr. Miller.
