What you probably already know: U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell resigned his seat and dropped his run for governor of California following a slew of sexual assault allegations. U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzalzes resigned from Congress after acknowledging he had an extramarital affair with a staff member who later committed suicide. Rep. Cory Mills remains in office but has been accused of hiring sex workers overseas and is under a temporary restraining order amid accusations that he cyberstalked an ex-girlfriend. Since 2006, at least 30 members of Congress have faced public workplace sexual harassment allegations, according to a new report from The National Women’s Defense League (NWDL), a nonpartisan organization working to prevent sexual harassment and protect survivors. The number is likely much higher.
Why it matters: In its newly released report, “Abuse of Power, Revealing Sexual Harassment and Misconduct in Congress,” NWDL estimates that actual instances of sexual harassment are at least three times as high as reported for several reasons. One, reporting is limited to only publicly available information. Perhaps more importantly, fewer than 30% of survivors report abuse. More than three out of four known instances of harassment involve legislative staffers, and 97% of those accused are men targeting women. The report notes that sexual harassment “is a problem for both political parties.” Nine members who have been accused remain in office.
What it means: “Taken together, these findings demonstrate that sexual harassment and misconduct in Congress is prevalent, targeted and underaddressed,” the report notes, adding that the behavior is “reinforced by inconsistent accountability mechanisms.” Those 30 cases involved at least 53 accusations of workplace sexual harassment. Another 13 members of Congress from 11 states have been accused of non-workplace sexual misconduct. “This report is a warning about the state of our democracy and women’s role in it,” authors Emma Davidson Tribbs and Sarah Jane Higginbotham write. “When Congress fails to address sexual harassment, it is not just a workplace issue. It’s a governance crisis.”
What happens next: The study contains a comprehensive and detailed list of all accused members, including the number of public accusers, jobs held by survivors and the outcome of the cases. It calls for more research and says Congress must become transparent about sexual harassment by working with survivors, advocates and other experts. It specifically says systems should focus on creating safe spaces for survivors; investigations must be done by independent third parties; prevention and intervention training should be a requirement; and harassers must be held to clear and consistent consequences. “Without meaningful reform, the patterns identified will continue to shape who holds power, and who is excluded from it.”
