Rep. Nancy Mace to force a vote on releasing Congress members’ sexual misconduct reports
A privileged floor vote would force Congress to decide—publicly—whether ethics files exposing sexual misconduct stay sealed behind leadership control and committee discretion.
Feb 25, 2026
Sources
Summary
Rep. Nancy Mace plans to force a House vote next week on a resolution requiring release of sexual misconduct and harassment reports involving members of Congress and their staffers. The move uses the House’s privileged-resolution process to compel floor action even if leadership resists scheduling the issue. The practical consequence is an on-the-record vote that could either open ethics files to public scrutiny or reinforce the institution’s capacity to suppress them.
Reality Check
Keeping sexual misconduct and harassment reports effectively sealed behind internal process invites a repeatable pattern of impunity that degrades workplace safety on Capitol Hill and teaches powerful officials they can outlast scrutiny. The conduct described—sexually explicit messages to a subordinate and alleged quid-pro-quo dynamics—may not be straightforwardly chargeable on these facts alone, but it squarely implicates federal workplace and anti-coercion norms and triggers Congress’s own duty to police conflicts, retaliation, and abuse of power. What is unmistakable is the governance failure: when leadership defers and committees sit on completed investigative work, we normalize a system where accountability becomes optional, and our rights as workers and citizens are subordinated to institutional self-protection.
Media
Detail
<p>Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said she will file a privileged motion March 4 to force House action on her resolution directing the House Ethics Committee to release all sexual misconduct or harassment reports involving members of Congress or their staffers. Mace said she has consulted with the parliamentarian and has one modification to complete before filing it as privileged.</p><p>Once filed as privileged, House Republican leadership would have two legislative days to schedule floor consideration. The chamber could vote directly on the resolution, or vote to table it or refer it to committee.</p><p>Mace introduced the measure after reporting that Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) sent sexually explicit text messages to a former aide; an attorney for the aide’s husband confirmed the authenticity of the texts to NBC News. Gonzales has denied having an affair, suggested he is a victim of blackmail and political attack amid a March 3 primary, and has said he will not resign. The Office of Congressional Conduct has completed an investigation into Gonzales and is expected to transmit findings to the House Ethics Committee next week.</p>