Beset by complaints of fecklessness, the House Ethics Committee made a plea Monday for people to come forward and report any sexual misconduct by House lawmakers.
The panel made its call for tips after two lawmakers, Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales, resigned amid allegations of appalling misconduct — some of it long rumored but never investigated.
The committee, in a lengthy public statement, proclaimed its commitment to “maintaining a congressional workplace free from sexual misconduct and ensuring that any individuals responsible for misconduct are held responsible for their behavior.”
“There should be zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, harassment, or discrimination in the halls of Congress, or in any employment setting,” the Ethics Committee said.
It also released a list of 28 cases of lawmaker sexual misconduct that the Ethics Committee has investigated since 1976.
At the top of the list are Mr. Swalwell, a California Democrat whom multiple women have accused of sexual assault and two of rape, and Mr. Gonzales, a Texas Republican who confessed to having an affair with a staff member in 2024, which is a violation of the House code of conduct. The staffer died by suicide last year.
Mr. Swalwell has denied the specific claims of sexual assault and harassment levied against him but apologized for unspecified “mistakes in judgment.”
The ethics committee opened an investigation into Mr. Swalwell just last week, though rumors of misconduct have reportedly swirled for years. It began its investigation into Mr. Gonzales in March, six months after the staffer’s suicide.
The committee lost its jurisdiction to continue investigating the claims made against Mr. Swalwell and Mr. Gonzales when they resigned.
However, it is still investigating allegations of sexual misconduct and dating violence made against Rep. Cory Mills, Florida Republican.
The panel said that anyone who is a victim or aware of House lawmaker or staff sexual misconduct can submit a complaint at https://ethics.house.gov/file-a-complaint. The person submitting the complaint does not have to be a House employee.
It also provided resources for House staffers who want to file civil claims of sexual harassment to do so with the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights and the Office of Employee Advocacy.
“The Committee strongly encourages anyone who may have experienced sexual misconduct by a House Member or staffer, or who has knowledge of such conduct, to contact the Committee, OCWR, or OEA,” the statement said.
Of the cases the committee has investigated since 1976, it released findings in 14 of those investigations. It lost jurisdiction over the others when members resigned or retired.
In the last 50 years, the Ethics Committee found seven House members engaged in sexual misconduct violations: Florida Republican Matt Gaetz, Nevada Democrat Ruben Kihuen, Illinois Democrat Gus Savage, California Democrat Jim Bates, Ohio Republican Donald “Buz” Lukens, Massachusetts Democrat Gerry Studds and Illinois Republican Daniel Crane.
Seven other lawmakers were investigated for sexual misconduct but the committee could not substantiate the allegations.
The Ethics Committee acknowledged there are likely other cases of sexual misconduct that were never reported, saying its “greatest hurdle” is convincing vulnerable witnesses to share their stories.
The panel said it does not publicly share the source of sexual misconduct allegations and does not release interview transcripts as it prioritizes witness confidentiality and safety.
Since the news of the sexual misconduct allegations against Mr. Swalwell broke, there has been a lot of online speculation about other lawmakers who may have engaged in wrongdoing.
Former Rep. George Santos posted on social media the names of eight current members and one senator whom he said he has heard rumors of engaging in sexual misconduct.
“DC is not a Swamp,” he wrote. “It’s a cesspool.”
Mr. Santos was expelled from the House in 2023 for lying about his background and defrauding donors. He was later sentenced to 87 months in prison after pleading guilty to identity theft and wire fraud, but he only served three before President Trump commuted his sentence.
In its investigation of Mr. Santos, the House Ethics Committee examined allegations that he sexually harassed a staff member but did not find evidence of such violations.
