Mike’s Musings: Shame on Congress, sexual harassment, misconduct claims will remain secret

There are few things more corrosive to public trust than the appearance that those in power play by a different set of rules. Congress’s long-standing practice of shielding the identities of lawmakers who used taxpayer-funded settlements to resolve sexual harassment claims is one of those practices—and it should end. The fact that lawmakers recently voted to keep those names confidential only deepens the problem—and the public’s frustration.
For years, allegations involving members of Congress were quietly funneled through the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, formerly the Office of Compliance, with settlements paid out of a secretive fund. While reforms in recent years have shifted financial responsibility to individual lawmakers, the culture of secrecy remains stubbornly intact. The question is simple: why should the public be kept in the dark about misconduct committed by elected officials, especially when public money was used to resolve those claims?
That question became unavoidable earlier this month when Congressperson Nancy Mace forced a vote to bring transparency to the system. Her proposal would have required the release of records related to sexual harassment and misconduct claims—while still protecting victims by redacting their identities. It was a measured, reasonable attempt to balance privacy with accountability.
And yet, it failed—decisively.
By a margin of roughly 357–65, members of Congress from both parties voted to keep those records hidden. It was a rare moment of bipartisan unity, but not one the American public should celebrate. Instead of choosing transparency, lawmakers chose to protect the institution—and, by extension, themselves.
When I saw the vote total I was flabbergasted. Congress is roughly divided evenly between male and female, yet dozens if not a few hundred female representatives voted to keep sexual harassment claims secret. Please explain to me why?
In virtually every other workplace in America, accountability matters. When executives or employees engage in harassment and a settlement is reached, there are often consequences—professional, reputational, or legal. Yet in Congress, the very institution tasked with writing and enforcing the nation’s laws, there has historically been a quiet escape hatch. Names withheld. Records sealed. Accountability deferred.
Defenders of anonymity argue that confidentiality protects victims, and that is a valid and important concern. Survivors of harassment should never be forced into the spotlight against their will. But protecting victims and shielding perpetrators are not the same thing. It is entirely possible—and necessary—to safeguard victims’ identities while still disclosing the names of those who abused their power. In fact, failing to do so often protects repeat offenders and enables patterns of misconduct to continue unchecked.
Transparency is not about punishment—it’s about trust. Voters have a right to know whether the individuals representing them have used public funds to settle allegations of serious wrongdoing. These are not private citizens; they are public servants entrusted with authority, influence, and taxpayer dollars. Concealing their actions erodes confidence in government and reinforces the perception of a protected political class.
The recent vote to keep these records confidential also undermines deterrence. If lawmakers know that any misconduct will remain hidden, quietly resolved behind closed doors, what incentive is there to change behavior? Sunlight, as the saying goes, is the best disinfectant. Transparency would send a clear message: no one is above the standards they impose on others.
This is not a partisan issue. Misconduct knows no party lines, and neither should accountability. Whether Democrat or Republican, any lawmaker who has used a taxpayer-funded settlement to resolve harassment claims should be subject to public scrutiny. Anything less is a disservice to the American people.
Congress has made some progress, but not enough. Reforms that require members to personally repay settlements are a step in the right direction, but they do not address the core issue of transparency. And with a vote that so overwhelmingly reinforces secrecy, Congress risks further eroding what little trust remains.
If Congress wants to restore faith in its institution, it must start by holding itself to the same standards it expects from everyone else. That means reversing course, releasing the names, and proving that accountability is more than just a talking point.