The U.S. Capitol building, situated in the center, is displayed alongside the Supreme Court of the United States and the Library of Congress on April 9, 2026, located in Washington.Rod Lamkey/AP
The bipartisan House Ethics Committee issued an uncommon declaration this Monday, inviting individuals who may have faced sexual impropriety by a House representative or employee to reach out to them, the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, or the Office of Employee Advocacy.
"There must be absolutely no acceptance of sexual impropriety, harassment, or prejudiced behavior within the Capitol, or in any professional sphere," the committee expressed in its extensive statement.
"The primary obstacle the Committee encounters when assessing claims of sexual impropriety is persuading the most susceptible witnesses to disclose their experiences," the declaration stated. "Therefore, the Committee’s standard procedure is to only share the details that are deemed necessary to ensure that Members are held responsible for their improper actions, while also addressing public reports that tarnish the reputation of the House."
The statement surfaces following allegations of sexual impropriety, which led to the departures of California Democrat Eric Swalwell and Texas Republican Tony Gonzales in the prior week.
The U.S. Capitol building, situated in the center, is displayed alongside the Supreme Court of the United States and the Library of Congress on April 9, 2026, located in Washington.Rod Lamkey/AP
Gonzales and Swalwell were on the verge of confronting endeavors by their peers to remove them from the House. The House Ethics Committee had declared investigations into both individuals, which ceased following their resignations.
Gonzales withdrew from his reelection campaign earlier in the year after acknowledging an intimate relationship with a staff member who later committed suicide. Gonzales admitted he "erred" and "exhibited poor judgement."
Swalwell halted his campaign for the governorship of California amidst the accusations levelled against him, which encompassed claims of sexual assault, which he has refuted. Swalwell's legal representative, Sara Azari, asserted the prior week that the accusations are "untrue."
The committee conveyed that, since 2017, they have launched investigations into 20 distinct cases entailing sexual impropriety perpetrated by a legislator.
"The Committee has also probed several Members for their management of sexual impropriety claims involving their senior staff," the declaration specified.
Throughout its existence, the committee has overseen 28 investigations into sexual misconduct. A number of members under investigation resigned, and some were ultimately exonerated.
The panel highlighted that it does not engage in sexual harassment litigation nor does it have "any role in the resolutions of such claims."
"The Committee has adopted the stance that conduct falling short of legal definitions of sexual harassment or assault under federal or state laws can still constitute a breach of the Code of Official Conduct, which imposes a more stringent standard on House Members," the declaration indicated. "Furthermore, the Committee has invariably made public its investigations into publicly reported allegations of sexual misconduct and has shared any findings related to such matters."
Sourse: abcnews.go.com