NBC, FOX coverage of Capitol Hill sex tape scandal is starkly different

December 18, 2023

Karah Rucker, Anchor/Reporter

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A Senate staffer at the center of a sex tape controversy has reportedly been fired, leading to contrasting headlines from different news outlets. The pornographic video reportedly involves two men and seems to have been recorded inside a Senate hearing room.

The video was first covered by The Daily Caller. The outlet reported the film was originally posted in a private social media group. The video, which has since been leaked, led to the ousting of an aide for Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md.

The staffer, identified as Aidan Maese-Czeropski, released a statement on LinkedIn.

“I have been attacked for who I love to pursue a political agenda. While some of my actions in the past have shown poor judgment, I love my job and would never disrespect my workplace,” Maese-Czeropski wrote. “Any attempts to characterize my actions otherwise are fabricated.”

The revelation has led to some reports critical of the scandal’s coverage.

NBC, a reportedly left-leaning news outlet, published an article titled, “Senate staffer alleged by conservative outlets to have had sex in a hearing room is no longer employed.”

In a response, Fox News, a right-leaning news outlet, published the headline, “NBC News frames Senate sex tape video as ‘conservative news outlets’ pushing the story.”

Sen. Cardin also released a statement when the story first came to light, saying his office had seen the reports from the “right-wing media” and were investigating.

Tags: Ben Cardin, Capitol Hill, Fox News, NBC, U.S. Senate

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Full story

The staffer, identified as Aidan Maese-Czeropski, released a statement on LinkedIn.

The revelation has led to some reports critical of the scandal’s coverage.

NBC, a reportedly left-leaning news outlet, published an article titled, “Senate staffer alleged by conservative outlets to have had sex in a hearing room is no longer employed.”

In a response, Fox News, a right-leaning news outlet, published the headline, “NBC News frames Senate sex tape video as ‘conservative news outlets’ pushing the story.”

Sen. Cardin also released a statement when the story first came to light, saying his office had seen the reports from the “right-wing media” and were investigating.