By Gregory Korte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine fired a low-level staffer Friday after the Internet diary of her sexual exploits - including stories about taking money for sex from government officials - became the buzz of the Washington Beltway.

The staffer, identified only by the name of her Web log - "Washingtonienne" - had been using Senate computers to post the diary, DeWine's office said.

"After investigating these allegations, our office has determined that there was an unacceptable use of Senate computers to post unsuitable and offensive material to an Internet Web log," DeWine communications director Mike Dawson said in a written statement. "Other inappropriate material was found in the employee's work area as well."

Saying it was a personnel matter, the senator's office would not publicly identify the staff assistant, who had worked for DeWine since February. DeWine, an Ohio Republican, has 55 employees, including Ohio and subcommittee staffers.

The senator has not filed a criminal complaint with the U.S. Capitol Police Department for the misuse of Senate computers or for the alleged prostitution described in the Web log, or "blog."

"Basically, it's the senator's call. If they're saying it's a personnel matter, that's it," said Capitol Police Sgt. Contricia Sellers-Ford.

It's unclear whether the blog was intended to be fictional. In her last entry on Tuesday, "Washingtonienne" said she made $400 during a "long lunch" with an unnamed chief of staff of a government agency. "When I returned to the office, I heard that my boss was asking about my whereabouts. Loser," she wrote.

The episode - which has gotten extensive coverage in Washington's local media - has illustrated the ability of the Internet to hype a political scandal, however small.

Washingtonienne's blog received little notice until several other gossip blogs advanced the story Wednesday with speculation about the identity of the staffer.

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com