Florida Rep. Tim Mahoney's Wife Files For Divorce Amid Controversy

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Rep. Tim Mahoney's (D-FL) wife has filed for divorce amid allegations that the congressman paid a former staffer to avoid a sexual harassment lawsuit, as well as a recent admission by Mahoney that he had engaged in "multiple affairs."

The congressman's wife of more than two decades, Terry Mahoney, filed court papers seeking a divorce on Monday. The couple have a daughter named Bailey.

ABC reported last week that Mahoney paid a former congressional staffer and campaign worker Patricia Allen $121,000 and a $50,000-a-year job to stop her from filing a lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment. Mahoney allegedly fired Allen after having an extramarital affair with her.

The 52-year congressman issued two statements in the succeeding days, one to say he had asked the House Ethics Committee to "review the allegations," another to apologize to his family for the "embarrassment and heartache" and to say that the he "consider[s] this to be a private matter." On both statements, he made no admissions to the allegations that he had an affair or that he broke any laws.

Mahoney had his wife beside him in his first public appearance to respond to allegations last Tuesday.

On Friday, the congressman openly confessed to WPBF News 25, an ABC affiliate, "Let me just be explicit that I am admitting to it...to having affairs." But he also insisted that he had not broken any laws.

The House Ethics panel announced the same day that it was reviewing allegations of "improper conduct" by the lawmaker, and will interview the congressman and "other parties who may have information about this matter."

Mahoney, who is seeking re-election, won his House seat in 2006 after former Florida Rep. Mark Foley resigned amid allegations that he had sent sexually explicit e-mail and text messages to male House pages.