New legislation is being introduced to prohibit House lawmakers from engaging in sexual relationships with staffers. This move follows a series of scandals that have affected Capitol Hill. Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, plans to propose two bills aimed at clarifying permissible relationships between lawmakers and House employees.
One of the proposed bills is a House resolution that would prevent members of the House from having sexual relationships with any employee of the chamber. Another bill seeks to prevent lawmakers from cohabiting with House staffers, with exemptions for married couples.
Mace has emphasized that lawmakers should prioritize serving their constituents and avoid inappropriate relationships with staff members. She clarified that these measures would apply to all lawmakers, regardless of gender, but highlighted issues with male lawmakers exploiting their power over female staff.
“Congress is not your personal dating pool,” Mace stated. “If you can’t do your job without hitting on staff, find another job and leave the women you work with alone.”
The second bill aims to prohibit lawmakers from living with staff, which Mace argues represents a conflict of interest. She stated, “No staffer should ever be coming home at night to the person who signs their paycheck. It’s inappropriate, it’s a conflict of interest, and it should have been banned decades ago.”
Recent exposures in Congress include Senator Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, who has had past relationships with two House aides. Though he was unmarried and the staffers were not under his employment, his actions have drawn scrutiny.
Previous scandals have included allegations of sexual misconduct against former Representative Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, which derailed his gubernatorial campaign. On the Republican side, Representative Tony Gonzales from Texas resigned amid an affair scandal, and Representative Chuck Edwards from North Carolina is currently under ethical investigation.
Mace’s efforts are part of a broader response within Congress to address these scandals. Other lawmakers, including Representatives Kat Cammack and Jeff Crank, have introduced legislation to impose similar conduct limits. Speaker Mike Johnson has also supported such measures.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter at Fox News Digital, focusing on House of Representatives coverage. She previously contributed to Daily Mail and CBS News. Follow her on Twitter @liz_elkind or contact her at [email protected].
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