By Michael Katz | Monday, April 20, 2026, 9:55 PM EDT
The bipartisan House Ethics Committee on Monday released a list of investigations into alleged sexual misconduct by representatives dating back to 1976.
The announcement follows the resignations of Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) over sexual misconduct allegations. The committee also issued a statement urging victims to report allegations to congressional authorities, reaffirming its commitment to “maintaining a congressional workplace free from” sexual harassment, abuse, and assault.
The list includes the first instance of the committee reviewing such allegations: a 1976 case involving the late Rep. Wayne Hays (D-Ohio). He was the first House member to resign before the committee completed its investigation. A total of 14 Democrats and 12 Republicans are on the list.
The late Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) was investigated twice, in 2014 and again in 2020, for pursuing a sexual relationship with a staffer. The committee noted that some matters could have been reviewed were removed from its jurisdiction due to a subject’s “resignation, retirement, or departure from House employment.”
In a statement, the committee acknowledged: “Moreover, unfortunately, there likely exist matters never reported to the Committee.” It emphasized that it treats allegations of sexual misconduct with “the utmost seriousness” and urged anyone who has experienced such conduct or knows of it to contact the committee, the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR), or the Office of Employee Advocacy (OEA).
The Ethics Committee no longer has jurisdiction over Swalwell or Gonzales after their resignations. However, Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) remains under investigation for alleged “sexual misconduct and/or dating violence.” An investigative subcommittee was established last November, but President Donald Trump still endorsed Mills in Florida’s Republican primary earlier this month.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) wrote on X that the House has “just introduced a resolution to EXPEL Cory Mills from the U.S. House of Representatives,” stating: “The swamp has protected Cory Mills for far too long and we are done letting it slide. We tried to censure him and strip him from his committee assignments. Both parties blocked it, but we are not backing down.”
At least half of the investigations occurred over the past decade, during which the committee said it has “adopted a more aggressive and robust approach to allegations of sexual misconduct.” Meanwhile, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has subpoenaed the OCWR to disclose “all awards and settlements” paid to sexual misconduct victims before 2018. Those payments total about $450,000 for Section 201 violations of the Congressional Accountability Act, which covers sexual harassment and other workplace discrimination.
Michael Katz has more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.
