Report: Hastings Allegations Under House Investigation

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – Months after allegations of sexual harassment first surfaced against South Florida Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings, a congressional ethics panel has started investigating the matter, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The case first emerged in March after the conservative-based Judicial Watch filling a lawsuit on behalf of former staffer Winsome Parker, who alleged that Hastings sexually harassed her.

"We can confirm that Ms. Packer is cooperating with the Office of Congressional Ethics," Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch told the Wall Street Journal.

Hastings is no stranger to being on the wrong side of the federal government. In 1989, he was impeached from the federal bench for allegedly conspiring to accept a bribe, according to the Journal.

If Hastings case is sent to the House Ethics Committee, it will then begin its own investigation. But the Office of Congressional Ethics has 90 days to look into the charges before having to make a recommendation to the House Ethics Committee, according to the Journal.

Hastings' case will come right on the heels of former Representative Anthony Weiner's revelations of sending sexually explicit photos via Twitter. Weiner quit after bi-partisan calls to resign came in to his office.

Republicans painted Weiner as being a threat and began calling for his resignation shortly after the scandal erupted. Democrats counter that Republicans covered for Senator David Vitter who acknowledged soliciting prostitutes before and during the time he was in office.