Senate Aide Arrested in Sex Sting
posted 4:43 pm Tue December 04, 2007 - Washington
A former aide to Sen. Maria Cantwell is in federal custody after being arrested on a charge of attempting to sexually exploit a minor.
James Michael McHaney was fired Friday from his job as a scheduler for Cantwell, D-Wash., hours after he was arrested by FBI agents. The FBI said in a charging document that McHaney allegedly tried to set up a meeting with an undercover witness posing online as a teenage boy. McHaney, who appeared in federal court Saturday, was being held without bond pending a court hearing Wednesday, said Channing Phillips, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office for the District of Columbia.
According to court papers, McHaney, known as Mike, tried to arrange a lunchtime meeting with an unidentified person posing as a 13-year-old boy. When the witness asked whether McHaney was interested in sex with a 13-year-old, McHaney allegedly replied, "I'll be there," the court papers said. He later asked for a photo of the child.
Congressional records show McHaney had worked as a scheduler in Cantwell's Washington, D.C., office since at least July 2006.
Cantwell's chief of staff, Michael Meehan, issued a statement Monday night saying McHaney had been fired.
"Late Friday afternoon the FBI informed our office that a Senate employee was arrested. The employee was immediately fired. Our office has and will continue to fully cooperate with the ongoing federal criminal investigation. Senator Cantwell has zero tolerance for crimes against children," Meehan said.
James Michael McHaney was fired Friday from his job as a scheduler for Cantwell, D-Wash., hours after he was arrested by FBI agents. The FBI said in a charging document that McHaney allegedly tried to set up a meeting with an undercover witness posing online as a teenage boy. McHaney, who appeared in federal court Saturday, was being held without bond pending a court hearing Wednesday, said Channing Phillips, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office for the District of Columbia.
According to court papers, McHaney, known as Mike, tried to arrange a lunchtime meeting with an unidentified person posing as a 13-year-old boy. When the witness asked whether McHaney was interested in sex with a 13-year-old, McHaney allegedly replied, "I'll be there," the court papers said. He later asked for a photo of the child.Congressional records show McHaney had worked as a scheduler in Cantwell's Washington, D.C., office since at least July 2006.
Cantwell's chief of staff, Michael Meehan, issued a statement Monday night saying McHaney had been fired.
"Late Friday afternoon the FBI informed our office that a Senate employee was arrested. The employee was immediately fired. Our office has and will continue to fully cooperate with the ongoing federal criminal investigation. Senator Cantwell has zero tolerance for crimes against children," Meehan said.
Latest Comment on Senate Aide Arrested in Sex Sting
preoccupied
8:07 am on 12/05/07
The people who are guilty of trying to have sex with 13 and 14 yr. old males and females through the internet (or otherwise) will risk their jobs and families. I wish I could understand why, knowing how many undercover police patrolling the net for sexual predators. Many people have watched Chris Hansen (Dateline), some even admitted it on TV. Why would anyone take a chance, and face danger, in going into someone else's home to get with their children? The most dangerous predators are those who have done their time for their crime, and have repeated their crimes. They will most likely try to kill the victim under the threat of recognition. They should get with adults and ask them to dress up as children. Anything, but please leave the children alone. Some of them were victims as a child and knowing full well what they endured,wo why do they do it to them, and then claim innocent by reason of mental defect.
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