Hoyer Reiterates: I Didn't Force Massa Out

Former Rep. Erica Massa had alleged, quite forcefully, that House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer had plotted to force him out of Congress by leaking information about the ethics complaint against him, in order to eliminate a "no" vote and pass health reform.

Appearing on Dylan Ratigan's MSNBC show at 4 p.m. today, an hour before Massa is scheduled to appear on Glenn Beck's Fox program for the full hour at 5 p.m., Hoyer reiterated his claim that he did not force Massa out of Congress intentionally.

"You'll have to ask him about his motivation," Hoyer said of Massa, who ranted against Democratic leaders and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel on his New York radio show over the weekend, after announcing last week that he would leave Congress effective Monday evening.

"It had absolutely nothing to do with his position on health care. As you know, he wanted to go further than the House bill went or than the Senate bill went," Hoyer said, pointing out that Massa's health care preferences were actually to the left of the Senate bill that House members will likely vote on.