Massa: I groped a staffer non-sexually

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) - The former congressman from the southern tier now admits he groped a male staffer, but says it was non-sexual. He's accusing the White House and congressional Democrats of giving him the bum's rush, but the White House is firing back.

Former southern tier congressman Eric Massa headed straight to the cable talk shows to try to clear the air about his resignation.

"If somebody on my staff got offended, was uncomfortable, thought I was inappropriate, I own that, it's why I resigned," said Massa.

Massa is at the center of a political firestorm over the conflicting reasons he's given for quitting: from a cancer scare, to being forced out over health care reform, to an ethics investigation involving male staffers. Massa says the sexual harassment charges stem from a misunderstanding at a wedding.

Massa said, "I went with a bridesmaid, danced, sat down. All the bachelors made their remarks about you oughta do this. I grabbed a guy, tussled his hair, and said, "No, I oughta do that to you" and I left because the party was getting to a place I shouldn't be at."

Glen Beck asked , "Did you ever touch anybody sexually or grope anybody sexually?"

"No. No. No. No. Ok?" responded Massa.

Massa maintains he he did nothing sexual or criminal. The only offense he's guilty of, he says, is getting too close to his staff. Instead, Massa says he fell out of favor with the White House when he failed go go along with the President on health care reform.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, "The notion that somehow we were involved in that I think is, as I said this morning, is silly and ridiculous."

On Larry King Live, Massa said he quit for a combination of reasons.

Massa said, "I am leaving because I have to fight simultaneously a potential re-occurrence of cancer, the Democratic leadership, a health care bill that's going to destroy this country, my opposition to it, and my belief that my party has become what it campaigned against. It's a very, very clear situation."

Governor David Paterson said he plans to call a special election as soon as possible to fill Massa's seat in the 29th congressional district.