House Ethics Committee urges victims of sexual misconduct to contact them after lawmaker resignations
The bipartisan House Ethics Committee on Monday released a rare statement encouraging anyone who may have experienced sexual misconduct by a House member or staffer to contact them, the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights or the Office of Employee Advocacy.
"There should be zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, harassment, or discrimination in the halls of Congress, or in any employment setting," the committee said in a lengthy statement.
"The greatest hurdle the Committee faces in evaluating allegations of sexual misconduct is in convincing the most vulnerable witnesses to share their stories," the statement read. "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."
The statement comes after allegations of sexual misconduct led to the resignations of California Democrat Eric Swalwell and Texas Republican Tony Gonzales last week.
Gonzales and Swalwell were about to face efforts by their colleagues to have them expelled from the House. The House Ethics Committee had announced investigations into both men, which ended when they resigned.
Gonzales dropped his reelection bid earlier this year after admitting to a relationship with a staffer who later died by suicide. Gonzales said he "made a mistake" and "had a lapse in judgement."
Swalwell suspended his campaign for governor of California amid the accusations against him, including allegations of sexual assault, which he's denied. Swalwell's attorney, Sara Azari, last week said the allegations are "false."
The committee said that since 2017, it has initiated investigations in 20 matters involving sexual misconduct by a lawmaker.
"The Committee has also investigated several Members for their handling of allegations of sexual misconduct by their senior staff," the statement read.
In its history, the committee has conducted 28 sexual misconduct investigations. Several members who were being investigated resigned and even some were cleared.
The panel noted that it does not handle sexual harassment lawsuits or have "any involvement in settlements of such claims."
"The Committee has taken the position that conduct that falls short of legal definitions of sexual harassment or assault under federal or state statutes can still be a violation of the Code of Official Conduct, which imposes a higher standard on Members of the House," the statement read. "The Committee has also consistently publicly announced its investigations into publicly reported allegations of sexual misconduct and has announced any findings in those matters."
