SouthernWorldwide.com – An ex-girlfriend of U.S. Representative Thomas Massie, R-Ky., has come forward with allegations that he offered her $5,000 to drop a wrongful termination lawsuit against one of his congressional allies.
Cynthia West, who is a social worker and school board candidate in Florida, stated that she began a relationship with Massie several months after his first wife passed away in 2024. She claims that Massie subsequently arranged a job for her in the office of Representative Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., a close political ally of his.
West asserts that she never applied for the position and was terminated shortly after ending her relationship with the congressman. These allegations were first publicly disclosed by West in a video interview with Marcus Carey, a Kentucky attorney who previously challenged Massie’s congressional bid in 2012. Massie has held the congressional seat since winning that election.
The allegations surface as early voting is underway in Kentucky for the state’s primary election on May 19. Massie, a notable critic of former President Donald Trump, is facing a well-funded re-election challenge from Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL endorsed by Trump. This intra-party contest has become one of the most closely watched House races of the year.
West has stated that she has had no contact with Gallrein’s campaign or Trump’s political operation and is not being compensated for making these claims. In her interview, West recounted that Massie first contacted her via social media in August 2024. Their relationship, she described, became “very intense, very romantic” over the subsequent months, involving travel to various locations.
“He wanted me to go to wherever he was,” West explained when asked why she moved to Washington, D.C., to accept the job in Spartz’s office, which Massie had facilitated. West alleges that she decided to end her relationship with Massie after he requested she “engage in behavior” she was uncomfortable with, and she also cited emotional abuse.
Following the breakup, the Spartz office terminated her employment after only “six weeks,” according to West’s allegations. She then filed a wrongful termination complaint against Spartz, naming Massie as a witness. It was after this filing that Massie allegedly made the offer of $5,000 to drop the lawsuit.
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“I called him up to let him know, and he was very angry,” West told Carey in the interview. “He said you’re just one person, that you can’t make a difference, that you need to just walk away.”
“He had $5,000 he said that he would give me if I could just walk away,” she continued. “I didn’t take it, though.” West emphasized her commitment to transparency and justice, stating that accepting such an offer would compromise her integrity.
Massie has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that West’s allegations are politically motivated. He stated, “I’ve never offered anyone money in exchange for their silence. I have consulted legal counsel, and we are considering all options.”
A statement from a representative named Wilbur criticized Massie’s position, noting his past calls for transparency regarding the Epstein files. “Thomas Massie spent months screaming about ‘transparency’ and ‘accountability’ over the Epstein files, but the second allegation hit close to home. Suddenly we’re all just supposed to shut up,” Wilbur stated. “That’s not principle. That’s hypocrisy.”
“Cynthia has been a warrior for transparency and accountability, and her integrity should be respected, not met with political threats, bullying, and the toxic politics Thomas Massie represents,” Wilbur added.
A spokesperson for Spartz’s office declined to comment on the specifics of West’s allegations. The spokesperson confirmed that West held a temporary 90-day probationary position and that her employment was not extended due to “unsatisfactory job performance.”
Spartz has previously been identified by the nonpartisan website Legistorm as having one of the highest staff turnover rates on Capitol Hill, earning her the label of one of the “worst bosses.” The Indiana lawmaker has maintained close ties with Massie; she was the sole Republican to support him for House speaker in 2023 and attended his wedding in November 2025.
