Congress is undergoing its most significant reckoning over sexual misconduct since the #MeToo movement swept Capitol Hill in 2017 and 2018, according to Axios. The renewed scrutiny follows the resignations of Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) last month amid allegations of sexual misconduct, including an assault claim against Swalwell, which he denies.
Nearly a decade after lawmakers implemented reforms around workplace harassment, new allegations expose what insiders describe as an open secret: a culture of misconduct on the Hill. “It's complete bullsh*t,” one House Republican told Axios. “Like you have all these guys sleeping with their employees, and nothing happens, and everybody knows what's going on.”
Gonzales admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. The House Ethics Committee lost jurisdiction when each lawmaker resigned, just as expulsion votes loomed. Separately, Axios reported this week that Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) had singled out two young female staffers for what sources described as inappropriate attention.
The resignations highlight systemic failures in Congress's accountability mechanisms. Because Ethics loses jurisdiction after a member leaves, investigations end prematurely, leaving victims with no formal resolution. The pattern echoes earlier scandals where lawmakers faced consequences only when political pressure made resignation unavoidable.
Critics argue that despite reforms, the system still protects powerful members at the expense of staff. The current wave of allegations, amplified by anonymous staffer accounts, suggests the #MeToo-era promises of change have not fully materialized on Capitol Hill.