Thomas Massie's ex accuses him of hush money offer

A former girlfriend of Rep. Thomas Massie accused him this week of offering her $5,000 to drop a wrongful termination complaint against his close ally, Rep. Victoria Spartz. Why it matters: Cynthia West's accusation surfaced a week before Massie's May 19 primary. President Trump is targeting the Kentucky Republican in what has become the most expensive U.S. House primary in history. West said she did not coordinate or communicate in any way with Trump's political operation and the campaign of Massie's primary opponent, Ed Gallrein. West said Massie's offer involved cash that he had previously given her during their relationship and that she later returned to him. Zoom in: West told Axios she broke her silence because she resented Massie for speaking about the need for transparency when it came to releasing the Epstein files — even as, she alleges, he attempted to silence her with cash when she accused an ally of his, Spartz (R-Ind.), of wrongdoing. West worked in Spartz's office for about six weeks after Massie, West's boyfriend at the time, arranged it. After she broke up with Massie, West said, she was fired by Spartz, who has a reputation as one of the " worst bosses on the Hill ," according to Legistorm. This March, according to a proposed agreement obtained by Axios, West was offered a $60,000 settlement in her wrongful termination complaint against Spartz. But it came with a nondisclosure agreement that West refused to sign, she said. What they're saying: Reached by phone, Massie declined comment and referred questions to Kentucky state Rep. Steven Doan, a family law attorney who questioned West's credibility, citing filings from her prior divorce. Massie's political account hid replies Tuesday on at least one post on X from users who linked to West's accusations. His campaign later issued a statement, saying: "These last minute dirty tricks don't merit a response. The trashy lies they're putting out now demonstrate how ...

Original source: Axios