Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) engaged in a tense and unusual confrontation with a Fox News Digital reporter in Washington after being questioned about allegations made by a woman claiming to be his former girlfriend.
The exchange unfolded when Fox News Digital reporter Nicholas A. Ballasy approached the Kentucky congressman and asked him about recent claims made by Cynthia West, a former Massie staffer. West has alleged that Massie pressured her to sign a non-disclosure agreement related to what she described as a wrongful termination. She also claimed that Massie told her he had a sexual encounter with Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) just weeks after the death of his wife.
Ballasy began the interview by asking Massie whether he wanted to respond to West’s allegations regarding the NDA.
“Can you clear up the stuff your ex is saying about you with the NDA,” Ballasy asked. “That you pressured her to sign an NDA for wrongful termination. Is that true, what she’s saying about you?”
Before responding, Massie asked the reporter which news outlet he represented.
“Fox Digital,” Ballasy replied.
Massie immediately dismissed the allegations.
“It’s all false,” the congressman said.
Ballasy then turned to West’s separate allegation involving Boebert, asking Massie about the claim that the two lawmakers had an intimate relationship.
Massie again rejected the accusation.
“It’s all false,” he repeated.
The reporter continued pressing the issue, asking why he believed West was making the claims and whether they could be connected to the recent primary race in which Massie was defeated by Ed Gallrein.
Massie appeared frustrated by the line of questioning.
“When did you all become a tabloid?” he asked. “Seriously, dude.”
The encounter then took an unexpected turn as Massie pulled out his own phone, pointed it toward Ballasy, and began questioning the reporter instead.
“So let me ask you,” Massie said. “I heard that you like gay porn. Is that true?”
Ballasy attempted to redirect the conversation, telling the congressman he simply wanted to provide him with an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
“I just want to give you a chance to give your side—” the reporter said.
Massie interrupted.
“I’m giving you a chance to give me your side,” he replied.
Ballasy declined to answer the congressman’s question.
“I’m not gonna get into that!” the reporter responded.
Massie continued pressing the issue.
“Are you a real news organization or not?!” he asked.
Ballasy again declined to engage and began walking away while thanking the congressman for his time and reiterating that he had been given an opportunity to respond.
Massie, however, continued following the reporter as the exchange came to an end.
“Come back, man!” the congressman called after him.
As Ballasy continued walking away, Massie questioned both the reporter and Fox News Digital.
“Are you with Fox?!” Massie asked in the final moments of the encounter. “Is that a legitimate news organization? Is this what you do for a living?!”
The confrontation comes shortly after another contentious exchange involving Ballasy and Rep. Lauren Boebert that was published by Fox News Digital on June 7.
During that earlier interaction, Boebert responded angrily to the reporter, saying, “F*ck you, first of all!” before adding, “There’s your clickbait that you were looking for.”
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