House Ethics Committee says it is not involved in settlements of sexual harassment claims

The House Ethics Committee wrote in a statement on Thursday that it does not oversee sexual harassment lawsuits or participate in the settlements of those claims.

The statement comes after the House adopted a resolution on Tuesday, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), directing the the Ethics Committee and the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR) to produce a “single consolidated list” that includes the name of each member, delegate or resident commissioner who was the subject of an investigation into sexual harassment in violation of House rules, or sexual harassment or sexual abuse that resulted in a monetary settlement.

“The Committee is dedicated to providing transparency for the American public on sexual misconduct matters. However, as the Committee has previously publicly stated: the Committee does not handle sexual harassment lawsuits or have any involvement in settlements of such claims,” the panel wrote in the statement.

The panel added that reforms made to the Congressional Accountability Act in 2018 require “automatic referrals to this Committee of Member reimbursement of sexual harassment awards or settlements paid out of a U.S. Treasury fund and publication of such awards or settlements.”

“Since the enactment of that legislation, the Committee has not been notified of any awards or settlements relating to allegations of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or other sexual misconduct by a Member,” the committee wrote.

The committee, however, called on the OCWR to release any information on sexual harassment settlements in accordance with Massie’s resolution.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) had subpoenaed the OCWR on the settlement funds and received files in response to her motion in May. Her office said that the files show taxpayers have paid over $300,000 in settlements on behalf of six former members of Congress or their offices.

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