House Ethics Committee Seeks More Staff and Authority Amid Wave of Misconduct Resignations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As a string of sexual misconduct and ethics scandals continues to shake Capitol Hill, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are calling for a dramatic overhaul of the House Ethics Committee. The push comes in the wake of high-profile resignations from former Representatives Eric Swalwell, Tony Gonzales, and most recently, Florida Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who stepped down this week just as the committee was poised to recommend formal punishment for multiple violations.

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The recent exodus of members before the completion of ethics probes has fueled a perception that lawmakers can evade accountability simply by resigning. "At a time when public confidence in Congress is at an all-time low, it is vitally important that the ethics committee investigates abuses of the public trust in a prompt, thorough, and fair manner," independent Rep. Kevin Kiley of California told CNN. Florida Republican Anna Paulina Luna echoed the sentiment, arguing that a process which delays accountability doesn’t deter misconduct—it enables it.

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In response to the mounting pressure, House Ethics Chairman Michael Guest is proposing three concrete changes to Speaker Mike Johnson. Guest is requesting additional investigators to clear the committee's backlog and wants to bring the Office of Congressional Conduct under his direct jurisdiction to eliminate duplicative efforts. Most significantly, Guest is calling for expanded jurisdiction that would allow the committee to continue its investigations even after a member leaves Congress, ensuring that a resignation is not an automatic "get out of jail free" card regarding ethics findings.

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Beyond the committee's internal reforms, other lawmakers are introducing legislation to tighten the rules on member conduct. Reps. Luna and Suhas Subramanyam introduced a bipartisan bill this week aimed at stripping pensions from members of Congress who commit serious offenses. Meanwhile, Rep. Pramila Jayapal is working to "untangle the web" of reporting mechanisms for staff, noting that the current process for reporting harassment is so convoluted that many staffers are unaware of their rights or the proper channels for filing complaints.

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Despite the urgency for reform, veteran members of the panel warn that due process cannot be sacrificed for speed. Ranking Member Mark DeSaulnier and Rep. Glenn Ivey noted that complex allegations, such as sexual misconduct, require thorough investigation. However, with Speaker Mike Johnson promising to personally lead efforts to make the institution safer and more secure, the committee is facing its most significant pressure for change since the 2018 #MeToo movement.

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