### Congress Can’t Figure Out How to Handle Creeps
Two more lawmakers have resigned due to sexual misconduct allegations, and guess what? Congress still can’t figure out how to create a safe space for victims. Shocking, I know.
Former Representatives Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) have been accused of inappropriate behavior with their own staffers. You’d think after the #MeToo movement, things would be better. Spoiler: they’re not.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) bluntly stated that the current process isn’t working because women aren’t coming forward. You don’t say? It’s almost like the system is designed to keep victims quiet.
In Swalwell’s case, four women did go public, alleging everything from unsolicited explicit photos to rape. After that, he quickly pulled out of the governor’s race and resigned from Congress—probably a smart move considering the allegations are now part of a criminal investigation. His denial of wrongdoing is almost charming in its optimism.
But here’s the kicker: the public outrage led to immediate consequences for Swalwell, while the congressional ethics process drags its feet like a sloth on sedatives. There’s no HR department on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers operate their offices like personal kingdoms. And guess what? Congressional staffers aren’t protected by federal whistleblower laws like other federal employees. Nice, right?
The House Ethics Committee takes ages to reach decisions, making it hard to believe it’s an effective route for survivors to seek justice. Gonzales’ case only adds to that skepticism. After allegations surfaced about his relationship with a staffer who later committed suicide, he confessed to the affair and resigned. But surprise, surprise—the Ethics Committee investigation went nowhere after he left.
Now, some lawmakers want to give survivors a more direct way to expose their abusers. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) is inviting staffers to report misconduct directly to her, promising to keep their identities secret while still making a public fuss. She’s looking for accountability, but you have to wonder if this “name-and-shame” approach will lead to effective change or just more chaos.
Officially, Capitol Hill offers various channels for reporting misconduct. But let’s be real—the process is so convoluted that it’s no wonder people are wary. The 2018 reforms supposedly made things better, like removing mandatory mediation and allowing remote work during investigations. But survivors still fear retaliation and being blackballed from their careers.
It’s been eight years since Congress last updated its sexual misconduct laws, yet very few lawmakers have faced real inquiries. Most have just jumped ship before any real consequences hit them.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has tasked Rep. Leger Fernández with leading the charge for accountability, while other members are busy looking for ways to improve compliance with existing laws. Speaker Mike Johnson is also keen on tightening rules but seems more interested in protecting his daughters than changing the system.
And as for the absurdity of it all? Former Rep. Jackie Speier joked about putting padlocks on lawmakers’ zippers. Perhaps that’s the level of oversight we’ve sunk to—locking up behavior instead of addressing the underlying issues.
So, Congress is back to square one, grappling with how to deal with its own predators while pretending it has the best interests of victims at heart. Isn’t it nice when the wheels of justice turn so slowly they might as well be going in reverse?
By Admin | Published: May 4, 2026 at 9:15 am
