Former Congressman Eric Massa is speaking out, trying to defend his reputation and rebut allegations that he sexually harassed a staffer.

Appearing on Fox News Tuesday, Massa said that he groped a staffer but denies it was sexual.

On his radio show Sunday, the democrat said that the incident in question amounted to goofing around with some male members of staff at a wedding.

Massa resigned Monday after a house ethics panel began investigating allegations that he groped multiple male staffers in his office.

Massa has previously claimed his misconduct was limited to using “salty language with staffers.”

However, Massa has given different reasons over the past week for quitting his seat in addition to the house ethics probe, including health worries and charges fellow democrats pushed him out because he opposed their health care bill something other democrats and the White House deny.

“I don't know why I would give any weight to what he said on the fourth day any more than the previous three days. The notion that we were somehow involved in that is silly and ridiculous,” said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

“The Massa scandal, the biggest problem is the distraction, frankly. Not so much what he says. I’m not sure if he's particularly credible at this point. But, that it takes attention away from the real issue we need to work on,” said Democratic Congressman Daniel Maffei.

Congressman Maffei has worked and campaigned alongside Massa for several years and says he was surprised by almost every turn in the Massa story in recent days.

Governor Paterson said he would call for a special election in the 29th district as soon as possible.