Opinion: A sex tape can simply be a private expression

Do we really need to prioritize caring about the Senate staffer being fired after a video of sex in a hearing room emerged, given all the other important issues in the world?

Jill Filipovic

Jill Filipovic brings up the scandalous incident involving a Senate staffer being fired for having sex in a Senate hearing room. Despite the scandal's sensational nature, Filipovic questions why the story still continues to hold public attention.

The video, initially leaked to the Daily Caller, has made its way into headlines across the US political media. It shows two men engaging in intimate acts within the inner sanctums of American power. Several senators have condemned the behavior, emphasizing that the Hart Senate Office Building is meant for government relations, not personal affairs.

The staffer allegedly involved in the video has been let go from his position. Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, for whom the staffer worked, expressed his anger and disappointment, stating that it was a breach of trust. He also voiced concern for the Senate staff and their feelings about the situation. Cardin's office confirmed that the staffer is no longer employed with the Senate.

If Maese-Czeropski is indeed the person in the video, it is unfortunate that he has been dragged into this public spectacle. Recording any encounter and sharing it with others comes with obvious risks. It is unlikely that he anticipated his filming to be widely broadcast.

It is also frustrating that he tries to turn a relatively mundane congressional sex scandal into a homophobic attack. Some may find the story more scandalous because it involves two men, but it would have still garnered attention if it had been between a man and a woman. This is not a politically motivated attack driven by homophobia, but rather a sensationalized one driven by prurient interest. In any scenario, "staffer makes Senate sex tape" would have sparked discussion.

The US Capitol Dome is seen on Capitol Hill on October 24, 2023, in Washington, DC.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Senate aide out of job after purported sex tape apparently filmed in Senate hearing room

The press has dedicated extended coverage to a story that should have been a minor incident involving a misbehaving staffer. Sen. Amy Klobuchar was even questioned about her support for an investigation, which seems unnecessary given the clear evidence on tape. Additionally, Cardin stated that the Capitol Police are looking into the matter, but involving law enforcement in such a small issue on government property is questionable. There were also inquiries about reviewing hiring practices, raising concerns about how that would be done effectively to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The moral of the story is simple: People sometimes make foolish decisions, and when those decisions involve sex and politics, the consequences can be being exposed in the public eye. The story should have ended with a staff member losing their job, a senator responding, and everyone moving on. However, certain members of Congress have extended the story, seemingly for political gain.

Republican Representative Mike Collins of Georgia tweeted complaining about "Gay porn in the Senate", joining other conservatives who have consistently spread false claims in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Now, they are insisting that this supposed sex scandal is worse than the January 6 attempted coup. This reveals a striking misalignment in our priorities when it comes to sex, politics, and power, as well as our strange tendency to magnify minor transgressions when they involve sex.

This isn't a story pertaining to sexual harassment or abuse. It's not an indication of deep-rooted moral corruption. Why are political reporters honing in on this story and magnifying its significance?

Culturally speaking, Americans have a complex relationship with sex. On one hand, it's used to market everything from automobiles to fast food, we actively seek out explicit material, and the majority of us engage in sexual activity outside of marriage. On the other hand, we are overly concerned about children receiving too much exposure to sexual content and are adamant about implementing policies that discourage pleasure and increase risk. The conservative right has long pursued the limitation of sexual health education and has promoted abstinence until marriage. Presently, some conservatives are restricting conversations around sexual orientation and identity in schools, banning abortion altogether, forcing women to endanger their lives in pregnancy, and striving to make contraception less accessible.

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Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. In this chaotic environment, the least helpful individuals are politicians and reporters acting as moral police, insisting that people face repercussions for minor, harmless actions. Instead, they should focus on more important issues.

If you're not a professional porn star, it's not appropriate to engage in sexual activity at the workplace. Those who violate this rule should face consequences, but a public shaming of both the employee and the boss seems excessive. This story should have prompted a day of discussion and the swift dismissal of the rule-breaker, not prolonged media attention. Sometimes, a scandal involving a sex tape is simply that - a scandal, without deeper implications.