By Rachel Kapochunas, CQ Staff

Two years after Florida’s 16th District House member was forced to resign amid a sexually-related scandal, the district’s new representative, Democrat Tim Mahoney , faces a major scandal of his own.

ABC News reported Monday that Mahoney, who is married with a child, hired his mistress to work for him after he won the election, fired her, paid her $121,000 to cover legal fees after she threatened to sue, and promised her a new job.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi quickly called for a House Ethics Committee investigation of the allegations.

Prior to Monday’s news, Mahoney was regarded nationally as one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the House. He faces a strong challenge from Republican lawyer Tom Rooney in a south-central District that has historically voted Republican. President Bush won re-election there with 55 percent of the vote in 2004.

The exception to the district’s GOP trend was Mahoney’s election to Congress in 2006. The district’s Republican incumbent at the time, Mark Foley, was forced to resign weeks before election day after reports he engaged in inappropriate, flirtatious text messages with teenaged, male Congressional pages. Foley’s name remained on the ballot, which meant voters were forced to cast ballots for Foley in order to support the GOP’s replacement candidate, Joe Negron. Mahoney narrowly bested Negron in November, 49.5 to 47.7 percent.

Due to the current allegations against Mahoney in a Republican-leaning district, CQ Politics is changing the rating of the race from No Clear Favorite to Leans Republican and will be monitoring the race for further developments.

Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, Mahoney didn’t address the truthfulness of ABC’s story but said he did not break any laws. “I would have come forward earlier but making sure my family is OK is far more important than any political career,” Mahoney stated. “I have not violated my oath of office, nor have I broken any laws and I consider this to be a private matter. I take full responsibility for my actions and the pain that I have caused my wife Terry and my daughter Bailey. No marriage is perfect, but our private life is our private life. I’m sorry that these allegations have caused embarrassment and heartache.”

He added that he believes he will be “cleared of any wrongdoing” and said he also requested that the House ethics committee investigate the “false allegations” in the press.

Republicans responded Tuesday that Mahoney had left too many questions unanswered.

“Voters in the 16th Congressional District have been let down one too many times by both parties, and they deserve an open and swift account from Mr. Mahoney,” National Republican Campaign Committee Chairman Tom Cole said in a statement. “Hiding the truth three weeks before an election does a grave disservice to voters who deserve full disclosure from a Congressman seeking re-election.”

Democrats are bracing for the scandal’s effects on Mahoney, but political scientist Susan MacManus of the University of South Florida said it’s too soon to count Mahoney out, noting Mahoney’s advantages of incumbency and the current national climate.

“Sometimes when you have economic meltdowns, moral issues can take a backseat,” MacManus said. But MacManus noted that in a competitive election, just a few voters can make a difference.

Mahoney and national Democrats have been working to bolster Mahoney’s re-election campaign since he entered office. He cultivated a moderate image, caucusing with the “Blue Dog” conservative Democrats and promoting a “pro-business” agenda that appeals to moderate voters. He was given a seat on the Financial Services committee and worked on financial issues of importance to his state.