Congress Faces Push to Ban Lawmaker-Staff Romances Amid “Culture of Creepiness”

Republican Rep. Kat Cammack (FL) warned that she would not feel comfortable sending her daughter to work on Capitol Hill because of what she described as a “culture of creepiness.” Her remarks came as Rep. Jeff Crank (CO) introduced a resolution requiring members to confidentially disclose any romantic relationships with staffers in other offices or committees to the House Ethics Committee. The proposal is part of a bipartisan task force that is weighing broader restrictions on member-staff dating.

The Independent

The debate follows a series of high-profile sexual-misconduct cases on the Hill. In June, the House adopted a resolution introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie (KY) that ordered the Ethics Committee and the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR) to compile a consolidated list of members subject to sexual-harassment investigations that resulted in monetary settlements. The OCWR later reported that, under the 2018 Congressional Accountability Act, it had not received any settlement notifications. Former members Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX) resigned in April after separate allegations of sexual misconduct involving staffers.

The Hill

Cammack said the power imbalance between lawmakers and staff creates “tremendous influence” over a staffer’s career and that the environment is a significant problem. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R) echoed the concern, stating he could not imagine any situation where a romantic relationship between a member and a staffer would be acceptable and likening the needed standards to those in corporate America. The bipartisan working group, which includes both Republican and Democratic women’s caucuses, is reportedly about 70 percent complete on a list of reform proposals, though it still wrestles with how to address violations.

The Independent

• The House Ethics Committee has conducted 20 sexual-misconduct investigations involving lawmakers since 2017.

The Hill

• Five of those investigations remain confidential.

The Hill

• The task force’s draft reforms are estimated to be 70 percent complete, according to Cammack.

The Hill

• “I think we would be better off if members were more focused on their work than enhancing their love life,” — Rep. Kat Cammack

The Hill

• “Listen, if you’re looking for love, I suggest you look elsewhere,” — Rep. Kat Cammack

The Independent

• “I can’t believe it would be acceptable in any situation,” — House Speaker Mike Johnson

The Independent

• “You have to balance the constitutional role that we have in protecting people back home and their right to representation and bad behavior up here on Washington in on Capitol Hill,” — Rep. Kat Cammack

The Independent