House Ethics Committee releases list of sexual misconduct investigations amid lawmaker scandals

WASHINGTON (CN) — The House Ethics Committee on Monday published a complete list of members of Congress it has investigated for sexual misconduct and defended its process for addressing — and publicizing — reports of such behavior.

The compilation, which stretches back 50 years, comes as the lower chamber’s ethics panel and Congress as a whole have come under increased scrutiny after a pair of high-profile resignations of lawmakers implicated in sordid sexual harassment and assault scandals. And it comes hours after the committee’s top Democrat issued an unusual statement pushing for more accountability on Capitol Hill.

In a statement published alongside Monday’s list, the Ethics Committee said it was dedicated to ensuring Congress is free from sexual misconduct and holding perpetrators accountable for their behavior.

“There should be zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, harassment or discrimination in the halls of Congress, or in any employment setting,” said the panel, adding it was “dedicated to providing transparency for the American public” and that it had a “long history” of investigating accusations of sexual misconduct against lawmakers.

“The committee has always made public its findings whenever allegations of sexual misconduct were substantiated,” the members wrote.

Capitol Hill was rocked last week by the resignation of California Representative and Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Eric Swalwell, who stepped down from his post amid a flurry of claims he sexually assaulted a former staffer and had inappropriate relationships with others. Joining him was Texas Representative Tony Gonzales, a Republican who previously admitted to having an improper relationship with one of his congressional staffers who later died by suicide.

Swalwell and Gonzales topped a list of 28 “publicly disclosed investigative matters” involving claims of sexual misconduct against members published by the Ethics Committee on Monday.

The chart summarized committee investigations that go as far back as 1976 and detailed the outcome of each probe. Accusations against the two disgraced former congressmen, the Ethics Committee said, resulted in a “loss of jurisdiction,” reflected in their resignations.

The panel’s list also included the ongoing probe into Florida Representative Cory Mills over claims he had a sexual relationship with a staffer. It mentioned the ill-fated ethics investigation into former Florida Representative Matt Gaetz — the committee issued a public report which found he paid for sex with a minor and used illicit drugs while a member of Congress. Gaetz resigned from the House before the panel made its findings public.

The Ethics Committee also appeared to respond to concerns about whether lawmakers accused of sexual misconduct were being held accountable, writing in its Monday statement that it has taken a “more aggressive and robust approach” to such claims.

Since 2017, the committee said, ethics investigators have probed 20 sexual misconduct accusations involving members of Congress and the panel has “consistently” made public statements about those investigations and their findings. Conduct that may not violate federal or state sexual harassment and assault laws is still considered a violation of the congressional ethics code, the committee added, which imposes a higher standard on lawmakers.

And the House’s ethics panel also takes steps to shield the identities of victims, it said, pointing out that it will continue to prioritize witness safety so people feel comfortable coming forward and “providing the committee the opportunity to hold wrongdoers accountable.”

But the Ethics Committee acknowledged there were still some sexual misconduct claims involving lawmakers that it did not review because the member in question resigned, retired or otherwise left the House.

“Moreover, unfortunately, there likely exist matters never reported to the committee,” the panel said. “As the committee has repeatedly asserted to the House community, through investigative matters and other actions, it treats allegations of sexual misconduct with the utmost seriousness.”

The Ethics Committee’s statement on sexual misconduct investigations came shortly after California Representative Mark DeSaulnier — the panel’s top Democrat — released a public statement condemning Swalwell’s behavior and calling for a “zero tolerance policy” for sexual harassment and assault in Congress.

“What has been alleged is deeply disturbing,” said DeSaulnier, who began by saying that while the Ethics Committee’s probe into Swalwell had prevented him from speaking publicly, the congressman’s departure meant he could “speak freely.”

“No one regardless of party, position or power should be allowed to abuse their authority without consequence. Period,” said the California congressman.

DeSaulnier added that the moment “demands change” and he intended to push the House to more effectively protect victims of sexual misconduct and to ensure perpetrators are “fully and swiftly” held accountable for their actions. “For too long, the system has made it too hard to come forward, too easy to avoid accountability and too tempting to look the other way,” said the top Ethics Committee lawmaker. “That has to end.”

The House Ethics Committee typically works in secrecy, rarely releasing public statements on its investigations. The panel usually only issues alerts when it opens a probe into a lawmaker and when it releases its findings — making Monday’s statement and DeSaulnier’s call to action unusual.

The recent spate of sexual misconduct scandals on Capitol Hill has laid bare a desire for heightened accountability, especially among congressional staffers. Speaking to Courthouse News last week about Hollywood gossip outlet TMZ’s new Washington bureau, one House Republican staffer specifically pointed to Gonzales’ conduct as they expressed hope for greater sunlight on the Capitol.

“We’re fed up with the injustice that we see all over, especially in the House,” said the staffer.

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