Directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release records of the Committee's review of violations or alleged violations of clause 9 (as it pertains to acts of sexual harassment) and clause 18 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
Description
This resolution would require the House Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release records related to sexual misconduct probes.
Summary
What it does
This resolution directs the House Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release all records, including investigative materials, regarding alleged sexual harassment or sexual assault by Members of Congress. Within 60 days of adoption, the committee would be required to publish reports, conclusions, and exhibits related to these investigations. To protect privacy, the resolution requires the redaction of personally identifiable information for victims, alleged victims, and witnesses.
Who is affected
This resolution directly affects the House Committee on Ethics, which is required to preserve and release specific investigative records. The measure also impacts Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners of the House who are subjects of investigations regarding alleged sexual harassment or assault. Additionally, the resolution involves victims and witnesses, whose personally identifiable information must be redacted from any publicly released materials.
Key provisions
- Preservation of Ethics Committee records. The House Committee on Ethics is directed to preserve all records, including investigative materials, related to violations or alleged violations of the Code of Official Conduct involving sexual harassment, unwelcome sexual advances, or sexual assault by a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner.
- Public disclosure of investigation materials. The committee must publicly release available reports, conclusions, recommendations, exhibits, and attachments related to such investigations within 60 days of the resolution's adoption.
- Privacy protections for victims and witnesses. The resolution requires the redaction of personally identifiable information for victims, alleged victims, and witnesses prior to the public release of records.
Fiscal impact
Not applicable: No CBO cost estimate available
Effective dates
The Committee on Ethics must publicly release the specified records within 60 days after the adoption of this resolution.
Relationship to existing law
This resolution concerns the enforcement and transparency of Rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, also known as the Code of Official Conduct, specifically regarding provisions related to sexual harassment and misconduct.
Stated purpose
The resolution seeks to ensure the preservation and public disclosure of House Committee on Ethics records concerning alleged sexual harassment or sexual assault by Members of Congress. It aims to provide transparency regarding committee investigations while protecting the privacy of victims and witnesses through mandatory redactions.