Sexual misconduct reform in Congress requires more than resignations

Within 55 minutes of each other, two members of Congress announced their resignations on April 13, 2026. These men — Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) — abused their power to prey on women staff.

Swalwell and Gonzales inflicted devastating trauma and lasting harm on the young women they abused. Yet it was these brave women and their loved ones speaking out, combined with the public outcry and impending expulsion resolutions that forced these abusers to resign.

But the survivors and their loved ones also exposed something broader: Congress’s systems for reporting and addressing sexual misconduct remain confusing, fragmented, and too often intimidating for staff navigating them in moments of crisis — not only in Washington, but in district offices across the country where thousands of congressional staff serve the American people.

For years, survivors, advocates, and staff have raised concerns not only about misconduct itself, but about the fear, uncertainty, and professional risk that can come with reporting it.

This week, we announced a formal bipartisan partnership between our caucuses dedicated to improving the reporting process on Capitol Hill and working to meaningfully change the culture of Congress once and for all.

Supported by leadership on both sides of the aisle, we are approaching this issue as an institutional........

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