Shooter, in a response to Ugenti-Rita's comments, made his own statement questioning the propriety of a relationship she started years ago with a House staffer.

Mesnard press aide Matt Specht said that relationship effectively was a little-guarded secret, with even the speaker being aware of the situation. But Specht said now that Shooter has raised the issue it has to be investigated.

Ugenti-Rita would not comment on the complaint.

Ugenti-Rita's initial allegations -- before she spelled out who had allegedly harassed her -- came on the heels of national publicity on incidents involving Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein; that led to a flood of other complaints, not only against Weinstein but others.

As to the decision to name Shooter, she acknowledged that the incidents are not new. But she told Capitol Media Services this seemed to be the right time to go public.

"I knew that there were other women out there,'' she said. "And I knew that I had a responsibility to do something about it, for myself and for others.''

Shooter would not comment about either Ugenti-Rita's allegations against him or his own about her.