House adopts Massie resolution to release records on lawmaker sexual misconduct monetary settlements
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The House on Tuesday adopted a resolution from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) that would direct the House Ethics Committee to preserve and release records related to monetary settlements paid out by lawmakers in connection with cases of sexual misconduct.
The vote was near-unanimous, with 420 lawmakers voting in favor and one Republican voting “present.”
Massie had filed the measure as a privileged resolution, which meant the House had two legislative days to act on it. The vote was the House’s final move before leaving for recess two days early.
The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), directs the Ethics Committee and the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to produce a “single consolidated list” that includes the name of each member, delegate or resident commissioner who was the subject of an investigation into sexual harassment in violation of House rules, or sexual harassment or sexual abuse that resulted in a monetary settlement.
That list should also include “the total amount of taxpayer funds included in all settlements, payments, reimbursements, awards, or other financial considerations paid in connection with such matters,” according to the resolution.
The House Ethics Committee in April released a list of all publicly disclosed matters it has investigated involving alleged sexual misconduct by members, listing 28 instances in total and 15 instances since 2017.
The House Ethics Committee in a statement at the time pointed to reforms to the Congressional Accountability Act law enacted in 2018 — after the #MeToo movement — and noted it hasn’t received any notifications of any payments relating to alleged instances of sexual misconduct by lawmakers since then.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) had subpoenaed the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights on the settlement funds and received files in response to her motion in May. Her office said that the files show taxpayers have paid over $300,000 in settlements on behalf of six former members of Congress or their offices.
“Congress has spent decades hiding this from the American people, and enough is enough. Taxpayers didn’t sign up to foot the bill for cover-ups. They deserve to know their hard-earned dollars were used to cover up sexual harassment by their own elected officials,” Mace said in a statement then.
Emily Brooks contributed to this report.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
The House adopted a resolution requiring the Ethics Committee and Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to produce a single consolidated list naming each member investigated for sexual harassment or abuse resulting in monetary settlement, along with total taxpayer funds paid. The vote passed 420–0–1. The Ethics Committee has investigated 28 total matters and 15 since 2017. Records obtained by a House member in May indicated taxpayers funded over $300,000 in settlements for six former lawmakers.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
Skip to content
The House on Tuesday adopted a resolution from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) that would direct the House Ethics Committee to preserve and release records related to monetary settlements paid out by lawmakers in connection with cases of sexual misconduct.
The vote was near-unanimous, with 420 lawmakers voting in favor and one Republican voting “present.”
Massie had filed the measure as a privileged resolution, which meant the House had two legislative days to act on it. The vote was the House’s final move before leaving for recess two days early.
The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), directs the Ethics Committee and the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to produce a “single consolidated list” that includes the name of each member, delegate or resident commissioner who was the subject of an investigation into sexual harassment in violation of House rules, or sexual harassment or sexual abuse that resulted in a monetary settlement.
That list should also include “the total amount of taxpayer funds included in all settlements, payments, reimbursements, awards, or other financial considerations paid in connection with such matters,” according to the resolution.
The House Ethics Committee in April released a list of all publicly disclosed matters it has investigated involving alleged sexual misconduct by members, listing 28 instances in total and 15 instances since 2017.
The House Ethics Committee in a statement at the time pointed to reforms to the Congressional Accountability Act law enacted in 2018 — after the #MeToo movement — and noted it hasn’t received any notifications of any payments relating to alleged instances of sexual misconduct by lawmakers since then.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) had subpoenaed the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights on the settlement funds and received files in response to her motion in May. Her office said that the files show taxpayers have paid over $300,000 in settlements on behalf of six former members of Congress or their offices.
“Congress has spent decades hiding this from the American people, and enough is enough. Taxpayers didn’t sign up to foot the bill for cover-ups. They deserve to know their hard-earned dollars were used to cover up sexual harassment by their own elected officials,” Mace said in a statement then.
Emily Brooks contributed to this report.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
The House adopted a resolution from Rep. Thomas Massie directing the House Ethics Committee to preserve and release records related to monetary settlements paid by lawmakers in connection with sexual misconduct cases. The vote was 420 in favor, 1 present. The resolution requires a consolidated list including the name of each member investigated for sexual harassment or sexual abuse resulting in a monetary settlement. The list must include the total amount of taxpayer funds in all settlements, payments, reimbursements, awards, or other financial considerations. The House Ethics Committee released a list in April showing 28 total investigated matters and 15 since 2017. Records obtained in May showed taxpayers paid over $300,000 in settlements on behalf of six former members of Congress. Congress has spent decades hiding this information from the American people. Taxpayers deserve to know their hard-earned dollars were used to cover up sexual harassment by elected officials.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
- The House passed a resolution directing the Ethics Committee and Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to release a consolidated list of lawmakers investigated for sexual misconduct and the total taxpayer funds used in related settlements.
- The vote was near-unanimous: 420 in favor, 1 present, with no opposition recorded.
- According to records obtained in May, taxpayers have paid over $300,000 in settlements on behalf of six former members of Congress since at least the 2018 Congressional Accountability Act reforms.