House task force calls Congress sexual misconduct reporting system 'a disaster'

A bipartisan House task force says the way Congress handles sexual misconduct complaints is badly broken. Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., who co-leads the group, called the system “a disaster” ¹. She said it was “designed to create a chilling effect for victims” ¹.

The group's other leader is Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced the effort on May 13, 2026 ². It was set up after a spike this year in House Ethics Committee investigations into alleged sexual misconduct ¹.

What the task force found

Cammack said former staffers “came out of the woodwork” to share stories after the group began its work. She said they had stayed silent because coming forward would end the careers they had worked hard to build ¹.

The group found that victims are unclear about where to go for help. They also do not trust that the accused will face consequences ¹. Current rules can work against them, including a 180-day “shot clock” for filing a claim after an alleged violation ¹.

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The ethics cases behind it

Three lawmakers resigned this year rather than face an expulsion vote. Two of those cases involved alleged sexual misconduct ¹. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, resigned after the Ethics Committee opened an investigation in April. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, also resigned during an investigation ¹.

The House censured Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., by a vote of 413-2. The Ethics Committee had concluded he engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female staffers ¹.

Other cases are still open. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., is under investigation. He says his actions were consensual and did not break the law or House ethics rules ¹. Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., is also under investigation, and he has denied the allegations ¹. These are allegations, not findings.

Proposed changes

Lawmakers are already banned from sexual relationships with their own staff or their committees' staff. The task force wants to extend that ban to all congressional staff ¹.

It also wants a single place for staff to report problems. Leger Fernandez described it as a “911 for sexual harassment line” ¹. The group is also considering giving alleged victims more time to file, and more accountability for lawmakers and senior aides who harass ¹.

The entire system on Capitol Hill is really designed to create a chilling effect for victims.

What happens next

The task force expects to release its recommendations after the Nov. 3 elections. Its goal is action before the end of the year ¹. Some changes would be made through House rules ¹.

Longer filing deadlines would require changing the Congressional Accountability Act. That law makes Congress follow many of the employment laws that apply to private employers. A change would need the Senate's approval, which complicates its chances ¹.

Congress passed a law in 2018 that required lawmakers to repay the Treasury for harassment settlements. It also gave staff access to an advocate to help them file claims ¹. This year's cases suggest those steps did not solve the problem.

That matters because accountability on Capitol Hill depends on whether staff believe they can report without ruining their careers. A bipartisan group that includes a Republican leader is now saying they cannot ¹. Whether the House and Senate act before the year ends is the test.

The Record

1. Jan 1, 2018Congress passed a law requiring lawmakers to repay the Treasury for harassment settlements and giving staff access to an advocate ¹.
2. May 13, 2026Johnson and Jeffries named Cammack and Leger Fernández to lead a bipartisan effort on workplace sexual misconduct ².
3. Oct 24, 2026Cammack says the task force found a reporting system that chills victims, and it plans recommendations after the Nov. 3 election ¹.

Sources

1. Courthouse News (AP), “Sexual harassment rules for Congress are under review after a flurry of ethics cases” (2026-10-24). courthousenews.com/sexual-harassment-rules-for-congress-are-
2. Rep. Kat Cammack's office, “Speaker Johnson and Leader Jeffries tap Chairwoman Cammack and Chairwoman Leger Fernández to lead bipartisan partnership to combat workplace sexual misconduct in Congress” (2026-05-13). republicanwomenscaucus-cammack.house.gov/media/press-release

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