The House Ethics Committee on Monday issued a rare, lengthy statement outlining its work to root out sexual misconduct in Congress, as lawmakers feel increased pressure to crack down on lawmakers’ misdeeds in the wake of two high-profile resignations.
Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, and Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, both resigned from the House last week amid allegations ranging from sexual misconduct to assault, and some lawmakers are calling for a broader crackdown on elected official misdeeds.
“The Committee on Ethics (Committee) is dedicated to maintaining a congressional workplace free from sexual misconduct and ensuring that any individuals responsible for misconduct are held responsible for their behavior,” the committee wrote in its statement. “There should be zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, harassment, or discrimination in the halls of Congress, or in any employment setting.”
With its statement, the committee published a list of its publicly disclosed sexual assault investigations dating back to 1976 (the committee was founded in 1967).
The House Ethics Committee is a nonpartisan panel known for carrying out most of its work behind closed doors. It releases information when it’s begun an investigation or when one has wrapped, but otherwise tends not to make public statements.
