House Ethics Committee overwhelmed by misconduct probes seeks more resources

The House Ethics Committee is grappling with one of its most demanding periods in recent years as lawmakers confront a rising tide of misconduct allegations.

"He has had a great challenge, the chairman of Ethics Committee, that committee is very busy right now," Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told Axios on Friday.

Why the surge in misconduct allegations matters

Pressure is mounting on Congress to demonstrate its ability to self-regulate amid a wave of misconduct claims. However, top lawmakers argue that the panel responsible for investigating these allegations requires more resources to keep pace.

Recent high-profile resignations and investigations

• Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) resigned last month following sexual misconduct allegations. Swalwell denied any wrongdoing, while Gonzales acknowledged an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.
• Reps. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) and Cory Mills (R-Fla.) are currently under investigation by the panel for sexual harassment and sexual misconduct. Both lawmakers deny any wrongdoing.

Calls for additional resources and reforms

Ethics Chair Michael Guest (R-Miss.) told Axios last month that his committee needs more resources to expedite investigations. Guest proposed integrating the Office of Congressional Conduct under the House Ethics umbrella, which would grant the committee access to its staff.

"We'll dedicate whatever resources are necessary to ensure the House Ethics Committee does its job as it should," Johnson told Axios on Friday. "There's lots of allegations flying around, so we'll make sure that they have everything they need to get the job done."

Bipartisan effort to overhaul misconduct handling

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) announced a bipartisan "partnership" on Wednesday to reform how Congress addresses misconduct cases. The leaders appointed the chairs of the Republican and Democratic women's caucuses — Reps. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) — to lead the initiative.

"We all are in agreement, Ethics moves too slow, and I would agree that Chairman Guest has the right idea that they are under-resourced, and that limits their ability to move quickly with these investigations," Cammack told Axios in an interview Friday.

The task force will hold its first meeting on Friday, June 14 to begin discussing potential reforms. Cammack expressed hope that reforms could be implemented before the midterm elections.

Democrats prioritize Ethics Committee revitalization

If Democrats regain control of the House in November, revitalizing the Ethics Committee will be a top priority. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), chair of the House Democratic caucus, stated that Jeffries would ask committee members from both parties what resources they need to perform their duties and ensure they are provided.

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations subcommittee that allocates funding to the legislative branch, told Axios he would support providing the Ethics Committee with additional resources.

Frustration grows over slow Ethics Committee investigations

Criticism of the House Ethics Committee has intensified as investigations drag on for months or even years before formal reports or disciplinary recommendations are issued. Since 2017, the panel has investigated 20 cases of sexual misconduct, but in many instances, members resigned before the committee released its findings.