Cantwell aide arrested in sex sting, fired from job

A member of Sen. Maria Cantwell's staff was arrested Friday in a sting operation for allegedly soliciting sex with a 13-year-old boy.

James Michael McHaney, 28, was charged in U.S. District Court with using a computer to arrange a sexual encounter with an informant posing as a boy, according to court records. McHaney was arrested Friday afternoon by the FBI after he allegedly told an FBI witness he was ready to meet. He later asked for a photo of the boy. The Smoking Gun Web site broke the story this afternoon.

McHaney joined Cantwell's staff in 2006. He could not be reached for comment.

In a statement, Cantwell's Chief of Staff Michael Meehan said, "late Friday afternoon the FBI informed our office that a Senate employee was arrested. The employee was immediately fired.

"Our office has and will continue to fully cooperate with the ongoing federal criminal investigation. Senator Cantwell has zero tolerance for crimes against children," the statement said.

Cantwell's office did not respond to questions about whether a computer in her congressional office was used in the alleged solicitation.

The court affidavit said that McHaney was online on AOL about 12:15 p.m. on Nov. 30 with the FBI's witness, who was posing as a teenage boy.

Asked if he was going to stay at work all day, McHaney allegedly replied that he could take a "long lunch." The Senate was still on its Thanksgiving break last week.

McHaney was picked up by federal agents an hour later in the lobby of an unnamed office building, and charged with violating the Attempted Child Exploitation Act.

Prior to joining Cantwell's office, McHaney worked for the 2004 John Kerry presidential campaign and before that as an aide to former Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Ohio.

Alicia Mundy: 202-662-7457 or amundy@seattletimes.com