House Passes Resolution on Public Release of Taxpayer-Funded Sexual Misconduct Settlements

The House of Representatives passed a resolution Tuesday that requires the House Ethics Committee to preserve and publicly release records of monetary settlements involving sexual misconduct by lawmakers or staff paid with taxpayer funds. Rep. , introduced the measure.

It directs the Ethics Committee and the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to publicly report sexual misconduct cases that resulted in taxpayer-funded settlements and the total amount spent. Fox News reported the final vote was 420-0-1, with Rep. , as the sole member voting present.

Massie stated there have been no reported cases of any members repaying sexual harassment settlements since 2018. " Mace released information earlier this year showing the federal government paid out more than $330,000 to settle sexual harassment claims since the early 2000s.

She stated Tuesday's vote was "nothing more than political theater" and noted that Congress already enacted reporting requirements in 2018.

Ten lawmakers did not vote because the chamber was scheduled to begin the July 4 recess immediately after the vote. No lawmaker spoke against the resolution during floor debate. Former Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, resigned in 2018 amid a House ethics probe into sexual misconduct allegations.

Former Rep. , resigned the same year after reports he used taxpayer funds to settle a sexual harassment suit filed by a former staffer. In March the House rejected a resolution offered by Mace that would have required the Ethics Committee to release all documents from probes into members related to sexual misconduct.