Calls Grow To Reveal Congressional Misconduct Settlements

Republican lawmakers are demanding Congress release the names of legislators linked to $17 million in taxpayer-funded settlements for workplace misconduct, including sexual harassment. The secret list, managed by the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, has remained undisclosed despite growing pressure for transparency.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) criticized the secrecy, writing on X, “Don’t you think we should release the names of the Representatives? I do.” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) backed his call, declaring, “Taxpayers should have never had to pay for that.”

Since 1997, the congressional office has resolved nearly 300 cases involving claims such as discrimination, retaliation, and harassment. The settlements, often kept quiet, shield lawmakers from public accountability. Notably, the office does not specify how much of the $17 million pertains to sexual harassment or disclose names involved in cases settled outside its jurisdiction.

Former Reps. Mo Brooks (R-AL) and Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) also voiced support for the effort, with Brooks insisting that forcing lawmakers to pay out of pocket would deter future misconduct. “In DC, taxpayers are last,” Brooks stated on X.

The controversy follows the release of a House Ethics Committee report on Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who resigned amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Gaetz has since suggested briefly returning to Congress to expose the secret list, a move that has sparked conversations among Republican lawmakers.

Reports indicate some GOP members are already drafting a resolution to disclose the settlements, signaling a potential clash over transparency in the coming months.

 

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