Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) has introduced a resolution that would require the House Committee on Ethics to keep and publicly release records of investigations into sexual harassment and unwelcome sexual advances by Members of Congress.
“If you sexually harass someone in Congress you do not get to hide behind closed doors. Tony Gonzales showed us what is happening in Congress. But he is not the only one,” said Congresswoman Mace. “The American people deserve answers. Staff deserve answers. Women deserve answers. No more protection for predators in Congress. We are going to shine a light on every single one of them.”
The proposed resolution instructs the Committee on Ethics to preserve all documents and materials related to violations or alleged violations of sexual harassment rules, specifically under clause 9 and clause 18 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives. If adopted, the committee would be required to make public all reports, conclusions, draft reports, recommendations, and related materials within 60 days. The privacy of victims or alleged victims would be protected by redacting personally identifiable information.
This action follows Mace’s recent call for Rep. Tony Gonzales to resign after text messages were released showing him allegedly sexually harassing a staff member.
Mace has been active in demanding accountability from those accused of abusing their power over women in Congress.
“Sexual harassment has no place in the institution of Congress. It is time we proved it,” she stated.
Nancy Mace currently represents South Carolina’s 1st district in the U.S. Congress, having taken office in 2021 after Joe Cunningham. She previously served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2018 to 2020 and graduated from The Citadel with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1999. Born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, she now lives in Charleston at age 45.
