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House Ethics Committee investigations into multiple members and ongoing accountability battles over congressional misconduct
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Packwood, an Oregon Republican who was forced from office in 1995 after the Senate ethics committee investigated allegations of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women, has died at age 93. Packwood's death on…
3 MIN READGraham Platner, the presumed Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Maine, is facing mounting scrutiny over sexually explicit text messages, an accusation of past abuse from a former girlfriend, and social media posts that have…
4 MIN READTony Hale recalled his days as an office temp while discussing his role in the comedy "Office Romance," which premieres Friday on Netflix. The 55-year-old actor said he worked temp jobs in New York before landing the role that launched his…
3 MIN READFederal authorities are investigating whether former Republican congressman George Santos engaged in insider trading by betting on a prediction market on his own attendance to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, multiple…
3 MIN READAmy Gertner, wife of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, released a video over the weekend condemning media reports about her husband's past sexually explicit text messages. Gertner characterized the coverage as gossip and…
3 MIN READUS Senator Cory Booker said Sunday he has 'concerns' about Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner's campaign after reports that Platner sent sexually explicit text messages to other women while married.
3 MIN READWASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee announced Thursday it is investigating Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina over allegations that he created a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment, following an Axios…
3 MIN READThe House Ethics Committee announced it is investigating Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina over allegations that he created a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment. Edwards, in response, said he welcomed…
3 MIN READFBI agents raided the Portsmouth, Virginia, office of state Sen. L. Louise Lucas and her cannabis business on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. The FBI said it was conducting a court-authorized search warrant but did not…
3 MIN READDemocratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida resigned on Tuesday moments before the start of a House ethics hearing that could have recommended she be expelled from Congress, according to the Associated Press. The House Ethics…
3 MIN READPatients and colleagues in Virginia's dental community are mourning Dr. Cerina Fairfax, a 49-year-old dentist police say was killed by her estranged husband in their Annandale home early Thursday. Police believe former Virginia Lt. Gov.…
3 MIN READA California woman said Tuesday that Rep. Eric Swalwell raped her in 2018 and plans to report the allegation to law enforcement. The woman, Lonna Drewes, said she believes Swalwell drugged her and sexually assaulted her at a hotel in…
3 MIN READReps. Eric Swalwell of California and Tony Gonzales of Texas resigned from Congress on Monday within hours of each other, both facing imminent expulsion votes after a bipartisan group of congresswomen threatened to force the issue. The two…
4 MIN READDemocratic Rep. Eric Swalwell announced he is leaving Congress and suspended his bid for California governor as lawmakers pressed for a bipartisan vote to expel him. The Associated Press reports that the move followed allegations of sexual…
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Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California said Monday that he will resign from Congress after sexual assault and misconduct allegations that prompted calls from lawmakers across the political spectrum for him to step down. The House…
3 MIN READRepublican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas said Monday that he will retire from Congress after bipartisan calls to expel him. Gonzales’ retirement announcement came days after revelations that he admitted to an affair with a staff member who…
3 MIN READDemocratic Rep. Eric Swalwell denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him, as prominent supporters withdrew their backing and called on him to leave California’s governor race. The…
3 MIN READProminent Democrats and labor unions withdrew endorsements for Rep. Eric Swalwell’s California governor bid after he denied multiple sexual-assault allegations, according to statements issued over the weekend. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other party figures urged that the matter be investigated and handled outside the gubernatorial campaign, as the race heads toward mail ballots for the June 2 election.
The House Ethics Committee has found Florida Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick committed 25 ethics violations, a ruling that could add momentum to Republican efforts to expel her from Congress. The panel said it would recommend a punishment in coming weeks after a hearing that stretched into early Friday morning.
The House Ethics Committee held a rare public hearing on Thursday into alleged ethics violations by Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida, as expulsion threats loomed ahead of November elections, the Associated Press reported. The panel planned to issue its judgment after the nearly seven-hour hearing, which followed a yearslong investigation that committee investigators said included “a mountain of evidence.”
Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas announced late Thursday he would not seek reelection, one day after publicly admitting an extramarital affair with a former congressional aide who later died by suicide. House Speaker Mike Johnson and the top four members of House GOP leadership had called on Gonzales to exit his race earlier that day. The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into his conduct.
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas acknowledged for the first time that he had an affair with former aide Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, who later died after setting herself on fire, as the House Ethics Committee announced it was initiating an investigation. Gonzales made the admission Wednesday on the “Joe Pags Show,” saying he “made a mistake” and would cooperate with the panel’s review.
The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into allegations that Rep. Nancy Mace overcharged a congressional program meant to help lawmakers defray housing costs in Washington, according to a report released Monday. Mace, a South Carolina Republican in her third House term, denied the allegations and said the process is “partisan,” AP reported.
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales on Tuesday resisted growing calls from fellow congressional Republicans to resign over allegations of an affair with a former staffer who later died after setting herself on fire. Gonzales told reporters he would not step down, saying there will be “opportunities for all of the details and facts to come out,” as House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would speak with him.
Texas congressman Tony Gonzales on Thursday denied being "blackmailed" following a report that he allegedly had an affair with a former staffer who died after setting herself on fire in 2025. The married Republican, running for reelection in the state's March 3 primary, claimed on social media that the deceased woman's husband was seeking money through a potential lawsuit.
Nevada Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony faces an ethics complaint alleging he used his office's social media account to promote his book for personal financial gain, in violation of state law. The complaint, filed by political consultant Lindsey Harmon, a former Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Votes, contends the conduct may constitute both an ethics violation and a category E felony under Nevada state law.
Washington state Rep. Tarra Simmons faces an ethics complaint alleging she improperly used $30,000 in surplus campaign funds by directing donations to a Nevada-based nonprofit with no active platform and no federal filings since 2021. The complaint, filed Jan. 12 with the Washington Public Disclosure Commission, links the nonprofit to Jovan Jackson, another first-time formerly incarcerated legislator now serving in the Nevada Legislature.
The Missouri House of Representatives voted Thursday to reprimand Democratic state Rep. Jeremy Dean for sending a sexually vulgar text message to Republican colleague Cecelie Williams during a September redistricting protest. The penalties include barring him from House committees, requiring him to stay at least 50 feet away from Williams, and undergoing additional sexual harassment training.
A congressional ethics watchdog said in a report released Monday that there is substantial reason to believe Brandon Phillips, former chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, improperly hired his girlfriend as an office intern. The Office of Congressional Conduct found that the woman was paid $5,044 in November and December 2023 and $5,244.44 in October through December 2024 for work in Collins’ Georgia district office.
Outside a Miami federal courthouse on Dec. 29, U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick reiterated that she is innocent as she faces federal charges accusing her of conspiring to steal $5 million in COVID-19 disaster funds. Her arraignment was scheduled, but her lawyer sought and received a rescheduled Jan. 20 hearing. Cherfilus-McCormick’s attorney said the case involves mistakes that do not amount to felonies and argued the prosecution is politically motivated.
U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick reiterated her innocence Monday outside a Miami federal courthouse, where she faced charges accusing her of conspiring to steal $5 million in federal COVID-19 disaster funds. Her arraignment was rescheduled to Jan. 20 after her attorney asked for more time to finalize her legal team.
