House Republicans are on edge as Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) prepares to force a vote to make public reports of sexual misconduct and harassment involving members of Congress.
Mace told NBC News on Wednesday that she plans to file a motion next week to compel the House Ethics Committee to release all relevant reports, a move that could put members on the record and force Republicans to confront scandals within their own ranks.
The resolution comes in the wake of allegations that GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) sent sexually explicit texts to a former aide with whom he allegedly had an affair. The aide later died by suicide, and her widower’s attorney confirmed the texts’ authenticity. Gonzales has denied wrongdoing and resisted calls to resign.
“When are we going to start policing our own? We haven’t done that yet because both sides protect each other from embarrassment,” Mace said. “This is a good old boys club, and women that come to work on the Hill need to be respected, whether you’re a member of Congress or a staffer.”
Mace has been in contact with the House parliamentarian and is finalizing her motion, which she intends to file as “privileged” on March 4. Once filed, GOP leadership will have two legislative days to schedule a floor vote. Lawmakers could vote on the resolution itself, table it, or send it to committee.
The move has drawn mixed reactions from Republicans. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) condemned Gonzales as a “disgusting pig” and called for Speaker Mike Johnson to act, while Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) described resignation as “the stupidest thing he could ever do,” despite acknowledging the poor optics.
Other Republicans, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), are backing Mace’s effort and criticizing the system that allows members to use taxpayer funds to settle harassment claims. “Congressional ethics is a joke,” Luna said on X. “While some of us are actually working, these clowns are sexually harassing their staff, doing illegal crap, insider trading, etc.”
Mace, who has previously spoken publicly about her own experiences with sexual assault, has called for consistent accountability across the chamber. “We all should be treated with respect and dignity,” she said. “It shouldn’t be about a quid pro quo or sexual advances. We’ve got to police our own to restore trust in the institution.”
Her resolution marks the latest push to bring transparency to misconduct in Congress, following previous efforts to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein and other high-profile cases.
Now, GOP leaders are bracing for the political fallout as the vote approaches, with Mace’s move threatening to put her colleagues—and her party—under an uncomfortable spotlight.
