U.S. House impeachment manager Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) delivers part of the impeachment managers’ opening arguments in the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump on charges of inciting the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol in the Senate chamber of the U.S. Capitol on February 10, 2021 in Washington.
US Senate TV (via Reuters)
The House Ethics Committee issued an unusually lengthy statement Monday outlining its efforts to root out sexual misconduct in Congress, as lawmakers feel increasing pressure to crack down on misconduct following the resignations of two high-profile lawmakers.
California Democrat Eric Swalwell and Texas Republican Tony Gonzalez resigned from the House last week amid allegations ranging from sexual misconduct to assault, and some lawmakers are calling for a broader crackdown on wrongdoing by elected officials.
“The Ethics Committee (Committee) is dedicated to maintaining a Congressional workplace free of sexual misconduct and ensuring that those responsible for misconduct are held accountable for their actions,” the committee said in a statement. “Sexual misconduct, harassment, and discrimination must not be tolerated on Capitol Hill or in any employment environment.”
In a statement, the commission released a list of sexual assault investigations published dating back to 1976 (the commission was established in 1967).
The House Ethics Committee is a bipartisan committee known for doing most of its work behind closed doors. They tend to release information when an investigation begins or ends, but not otherwise.
The panel has often been criticized for its glacial pace and has recently come under increased scrutiny.
Gonzalez was accused of having an affair with a staff member who committed suicide last fall. Mr. Swalwell, until recently a front-runner in California’s gubernatorial race, has faced a series of allegations, including allegations from a former staffer that he was assaulted by a lawmaker while he was too drunk to consent. Mr. Swalwell has repeatedly denied these allegations.
Both men announced their plans to resign on April 13 and formally left the House the next day. The Ethics Committee had announced an investigation into both men, but the probe was closed after the lawmaker resigned.
California Rep. Mark Desaulniers, the top Democrat on the House Ethics Committee, posted a statement on his X account Sunday calling for a “zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment and worker discrimination in the House.” Mr. Desaulnier said the accusations against Mr. Swalwell were “very disturbing.”
“Victims must be protected, and perpetrators must be held fully and promptly accountable for their actions. I intend to use this moment to promote just that, so accountability is not optional and silence is not the default,” Desaulnier wrote.
Since 2017, the committee has investigated “20 cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct by members,” according to a statement from the committee. Documents released by the committee list only 15 such investigations, suggesting there are several other allegations that have not been made public.
