Rep. Thomas Massie Accused of Offering Cash to Silence Legal Complaint

Cynthia West, a former girlfriend of U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, has accused the Kentucky Republican of offering her $5,000 to drop a wrongful termination complaint against Rep. Victoria Spartz. The allegation surfaced on May 12, 2026, one week prior to Massie’s May 19 primary election.

The accusation comes amid a high-stakes political environment in Kentucky, where President Trump has targeted Massie in what has become the most expensive U.S. House primary in history. Massie is facing a challenge from primary opponent Ed Gallrein.

West told Axios that she did not coordinate her public statements with the campaign of Ed Gallrein or the political operation of Donald Trump. She stated that her decision to speak out was motivated by a desire for transparency and accountability, specifically citing her resentment toward Massie’s public advocacy for the release of the Epstein files while allegedly attempting to silence her with cash.

Details of the Hush Money Allegation

According to West, the offer of $5,000 occurred after she informed Massie that she intended to file a complaint against Rep. Spartz. West alleges that Massie told her she was only one person and would not make a difference, urging her to walk away from the complaint.

West explained that the $5,000 offer consisted of money Massie had previously given her. When the two began dating in August 2024, shortly after the death of Massie’s wife, he reportedly gave her $10,000 in an envelope of $100 bills. This sum was intended as a surety for incidentals for West, a single mother, should she leave her job to work for Spartz. West stated she later returned that cash to Massie during a meeting at a Kentucky Cracker Barrel.

Employment Dispute with Rep. Spartz

The conflict stems from West’s brief employment in the office of Rep. Victoria Spartz. In December 2024, Massie arranged for West to work in Spartz’s office so she could be located in Washington D.C. At the same time as him. West worked in the office for approximately six weeks.

West reported that she broke up with Massie in mid-January 2025, alleging that he had become emotionally abusive after she refused to engage in behavior that made her uncomfortable. Following the breakup, West was terminated by Spartz.

West alleges her termination was a result of her complaints regarding a toxic work environment. Her specific grievances included Spartz’s decision to hire a noncitizen for a district director position and the representative’s efforts to involve herself in elections in Ukraine.

In March 2026, West was offered a $60,000 settlement in her wrongful termination complaint against Spartz. However, West refused to sign the agreement because it included a nondisclosure agreement (NDA). West, who is currently a school board candidate in Okaloosa County, Florida, stated she refused the settlement because she wanted to campaign against toxic political environments.

Responses from Massie and Spartz

Rep. Massie declined to comment via phone and referred all inquiries to Kentucky state Rep. Steven Doan. Doan, a family law attorney, questioned West’s credibility by citing filings from her previous divorce proceedings.

On May 13, 2026, Massie’s campaign issued a formal statement regarding the allegations:

“These last minute dirty tricks don’t merit a response. The trashy lies they’re putting out now demonstrate how desperate they are.”Massie Campaign Statement

Massie’s political account on X hid replies on at least one post where users were linking to West’s accusations.

A spokesperson for Rep. Spartz stated that the office could not comment on the details of the pending 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.

The Transparency Conflict

The timing of West’s public disclosure is tied to Massie’s legislative efforts. Massie has been actively recruiting House members to force a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a move that contributed to his rupture with Donald Trump.

West previously alluded to the dispute on September 11, 2025, replying to an X post by Massie where he sought “just one more” member for the vote. In her reply, she questioned whether he believed one person could make a difference, referencing his alleged comments during her wrongful termination dispute.

West eventually went public through a sit-down interview with Marcus Carey, a conservative Kentucky trial lawyer who previously ran against Massie in a 2012 GOP primary. Regarding the shortcomings in her divorce case mentioned by Steven Doan, West told Axios that those issues were her own fault because she represented herself without an attorney.