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http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid50836.asp
December 07, 2007
Man Caught in Sex Sting Worked for Kerry, HRC
A former aide to Sen. Maria Cantwell, arrested on federal sex charges last
week, had worked for the 2004 presidential campaigns of Democrats Dick
Gephardt and John Kerry and later for the Human Rights Campaign.
James Michael McHaney, 28, of Washington, D.C., was ordered held without
bond following a brief hearing Wednesday in federal court. Dressed in an
orange jumpsuit and blue jacket, McHaney responded ''Yes, sir,'' when
questioned by Magistrate Judge John Facciola.
McHaney was fired Friday from his job as a scheduler for Cantwell, a
Washington State Democrat, hours after he was arrested by FBI agents. The
FBI said in a charging document that McHaney tried to set up a meeting with
a witness posing online as a 13-year-old boy.
McHaney, a native of Little Rock, Ark., did advance work for both Gephardt,
a former Missouri congressman, and Kerry, a Massachusetts senator, in their
2004 campaigns, Democrats said Wednesday.
A spokesman for Kerry confirmed that McHaney worked for the campaign from
February to November 2004, but declined to comment.
Following the election McHaney worked for HRC, the nation's largest gay
rights group, before being hired by Cantwell in July 2006.
Cantwell's chief of staff, Michael Meehan, is a veteran political operative
who worked on the Kerry campaign before joining Cantwell's staff.
Meehan issued a strongly worded statement Monday night saying McHaney had
been 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.
McHaney's lawyer, Thomas Abbenante, said in court Wednesday that his client
would not exercise his right to a speedy trial, agreeing to a January 14
court date. The nature of the charges, which involve allegations of
extensive online communications between McHaney and the unidentified
witness, require time to study, Abbenante said.
According to court papers, McHaney, known as Mike, said he would ''take a
long lunch'' to meet with an unidentified person posing as a teenage 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.
It is not known if McHaney used a Senate computer to arrange the alleged
meetings. Abbenante declined to comment.
McHaney, who has no previous criminal record, was charged with attempted
child exploitation. If convicted, he faces at least five years in prison.
(Matthew Daly, AP)
December 07, 2007
Man Caught in Sex Sting Worked for Kerry, HRC
A former aide to Sen. Maria Cantwell, arrested on federal sex charges last
week, had worked for the 2004 presidential campaigns of Democrats Dick
Gephardt and John Kerry and later for the Human Rights Campaign.
James Michael McHaney, 28, of Washington, D.C., was ordered held without
bond following a brief hearing Wednesday in federal court. Dressed in an
orange jumpsuit and blue jacket, McHaney responded ''Yes, sir,'' when
questioned by Magistrate Judge John Facciola.
McHaney was fired Friday from his job as a scheduler for Cantwell, a
Washington State Democrat, hours after he was arrested by FBI agents. The
FBI said in a charging document that McHaney tried to set up a meeting with
a witness posing online as a 13-year-old boy.
McHaney, a native of Little Rock, Ark., did advance work for both Gephardt,
a former Missouri congressman, and Kerry, a Massachusetts senator, in their
2004 campaigns, Democrats said Wednesday.
A spokesman for Kerry confirmed that McHaney worked for the campaign from
February to November 2004, but declined to comment.
Following the election McHaney worked for HRC, the nation's largest gay
rights group, before being hired by Cantwell in July 2006.
Cantwell's chief of staff, Michael Meehan, is a veteran political operative
who worked on the Kerry campaign before joining Cantwell's staff.
Meehan issued a strongly worded statement Monday night saying McHaney had
been 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.
McHaney's lawyer, Thomas Abbenante, said in court Wednesday that his client
would not exercise his right to a speedy trial, agreeing to a January 14
court date. The nature of the charges, which involve allegations of
extensive online communications between McHaney and the unidentified
witness, require time to study, Abbenante said.
According to court papers, McHaney, known as Mike, said he would ''take a
long lunch'' to meet with an unidentified person posing as a teenage 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.
It is not known if McHaney used a Senate computer to arrange the alleged
meetings. Abbenante declined to comment.
McHaney, who has no previous criminal record, was charged with attempted
child exploitation. If convicted, he faces at least five years in prison.
(Matthew Daly, AP)
