Summary
The House of Representatives voted 357-65 to send a proposal by Republican Representative Nancy Mace to the House Ethics Committee, stopping a measure that would have made congressional sexual misconduct and harassment reports public. The Ethics Committee said public release could harm victims and witnesses, while Mace argued the public and victims deserved transparency. This vote is gaining attention amid recent sexual misconduct allegations against members of Congress.
Key Facts
- The House voted on March 4 to refer Nancy Mace’s resolution on public release of sexual misconduct records to the Ethics Committee, ending debate on the issue.
- The resolution aimed to preserve and publicly release all congressional sexual harassment and misconduct reports.
- The Ethics Committee opposed the resolution, saying public release might discourage victims and witnesses from cooperating.
- Nancy Mace criticized the vote, saying it protects power over people and buries important information.
- A “YES” vote meant sending the resolution to the Ethics Committee and halting action; a “NO” vote meant keeping it on the floor for debate.
- Recent sexual misconduct accusations against Representatives Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales have brought renewed attention to the vote.
- Both Swalwell and Gonzales faced allegations leading to Swalwell’s resignation and Gonzales announcing his resignation.
- The full list of lawmakers who voted to refer the resolution to the committee is publicly available.
