The House Ethics Committee released a list on Monday detailing all its publicly disclosed investigative matters involving alleged sexual misconduct by members. The report revealed the committee has initiated 28 investigations into such misconduct since 1976, comprising fourteen Democrats and twelve Republicans.
The late Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) was twice investigated: once in 2014 for pursuing a “sexual relationship with a staffer” and again in 2020. Hastings died in 2021 and was succeeded by Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), who recently faced 25 ethics violations amid probes into her alleged mismanagement of $5 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.
An investigation from 1982 to 1983 involving House pages resulted in the censuring of Reps. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.) and Dan Crane (R-Ill.), though neither was expelled. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) resigned before findings were publicly released after being probed for “sexual misconduct with a minor” and “solicitation of prostitution.”
The Ethics Committee no longer has jurisdiction over the Swalwell or Gonzales investigations following both members’ departures from the House, though Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) remains under review for alleged “sexual misconduct and/or dating violence.”
In a rare statement, the committee urged individuals who may have experienced sexual misconduct by a Congress member or staffer to come forward. The committee stated: “There should be zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, harassment, or discrimination in the halls of Congress, or in any employment setting.” The statement continued: “The greatest hurdle the Committee faces in evaluating allegations of sexual misconduct is in convincing the most vulnerable witnesses to share their stories.” It added: “Accordingly, the Committee’s practice has been to release only the information that is necessary to hold Members accountable for misconduct and address public reporting that impacts the integrity of the House.”
This statement follows allegations of sexual misconduct that led to the resignations of California Democrat Eric Swalwell and Texas Republican Tony Gonzales last week. Gonzales dropped his reelection bid earlier this year after admitting to a relationship with a staffer who later died by suicide, calling it “a mistake” and “a lapse in judgment.” Swalwell suspended his campaign for governor of California amid accusations of sexual assault that he denies; his attorney, Sara Azari, has characterized the allegations as “false.”