GOP lawmaker calls his ex-girlfriend's hush money accusation a 'last-minute dirty trick'

The ex-girlfriend of Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is alleging that he arranged a hush payment to her to bury allegations against one of his colleagues and close allies, Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN), offering her $5,000 to end a wrongful termination complaint.

According to Axios, "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."

"A school board candidate in Okaloosa County, Florida, West said she is campaigning against the very type of bullying and toxic political environments she found working in Spartz's office," said the report. "'What kind of person would I be if I did this [by taking a settlement with an NDA] when I have the ability to teach the culture,' she said ... West told Axios she began dating Massie after he messaged her on X in August 2024, shortly after his wife died."

Massie's campaign is vigorously denying the allegations, saying in a statement, "These last minute dirty tricks don't merit a response. The trashy lies they're putting out now demonstrate how desperate they are."

Meanwhile, Kentucky state Rep. Steve Doan, a family law attorney, is siding with Massie, stating in a lengthy post to X, "Ms. West has a documented history of making false abuse allegations. Notably, during the very period she claims to have been involved with Congressman Massie, she filed sworn accusations of emotional and physical abuse against the father of her children. On October 1, 2024, she swore under oath in an affidavit to these claims. However, after the court reviewed all the evidence, the allegations were dismissed in full."

All of this comes as President Donald Trump, disgruntled over the number of times Massie has broken with him on key issues, throws his full weight behind primary challenger Eddie Gallrein, leading to a blockbuster primary with ugly ads flying.