Congressional Office Releases Sexual Misconduct Report

Congress is experiencing its most significant reckoning over sexual misconduct since the #MeToo movement in 2017 and 2018. Nearly a decade after lawmakers enacted reforms, new allegations have highlighted what members and staffers describe as an ongoing culture of inappropriate behavior.

The renewed focus intensified after Reps. Tony Gonzales and Eric Swalwell resigned last month. Gonzales admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide, while Swalwell faces additional allegations of sexual assault that he has denied.

The House Ethics Committee lost jurisdiction over both cases following their departures, which came ahead of potential expulsion votes. Separately, Axios reported this week that Rep. Chuck Edwards had singled out two young female staffers in ways sources called inappropriate.

One House Republican told Axios that Edwards should resign or face expulsion. Edwards called the allegations "horseshit" in an interview with The Assembly but did not directly address the specific claims. Rep. " Luna, along with Reps. Nancy Mace and Lauren Boebert, has emerged as a leading voice among Republican women lawmakers pressing for consequences.

Mace has pursued multiple efforts this year to punish or expel Rep. Cory Mills over allegations including sexual misconduct, which Mills denies. On Monday, she released records showing more than $338,000 in taxpayer money paid over 10 years to settle sexual misconduct cases involving eight former members.

Frustration with the House Ethics Committee has grown on both sides of the aisle. Members complain the panel moves too slowly, with investigations often taking months or years. The committee has investigated 20 matters involving alleged sexual misconduct by members since 2017 but publicly named only 15.

Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest told Axios last month that the panel needs more resources to move matters through more quickly. House Speaker Mike Johnson said three weeks ago he would personally lead an overhaul of how sexual harassment cases are handled in Congress.

>"We are looking at every potential avenue to tighten up the rules and make sure that women have an avenue to report. So if there are ways to tighten the rules, or suggestions, we're seeking that from all members, we're open to that ... " — Mike Johnson, three weeks ago (Axios) No formal speaker-led initiatives have been announced.

That effort succeeded only after Republican women joined Rep. Thomas Massie in forcing the release despite opposition from President Trump. The developments have drawn attention to the effectiveness of post-#MeToo reforms instituted by Congress. Critics within both parties say the current system still fails to deter misconduct or deliver timely accountability.

Luna told Politico that members engaging in inappropriate relationships with staff must face consequences. Its public statement last month detailing 20 investigations since 2017 underscored both the volume of cases and the limited transparency around outcomes.