The House voted overwhelmingly to block a resolution from Rep. Nancy Mace that sought the public disclosure of all congressional sexual misconduct reports, citing concerns over witness privacy and the integrity of ongoing investigations.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted 357-65 on Wednesday to effectively kill a resolution introduced by Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) that would have mandated the public release of all House Ethics Committee reports regarding sexual misconduct by lawmakers and aides. Mace, a sexual assault survivor currently running for governor of South Carolina, forced the floor vote following reports that Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX) sent sexually explicit messages to a staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide in September 2025.
While Mace challenged her colleagues to “tell their female colleagues where they stand on sexual harassment,” the Ethics Committee leadership successfully argued for the referral, stating the measure “could chill victim cooperation and witness participation” and that “victims may be retraumatized by public disclosures of interim work product.” Although the House Ethics panel simultaneously announced a formal investigation into the allegations against Gonzales—who stated, “I welcome the opportunity to present all the facts to the committee” the procedural move to refer Mace’s resolution ensures the broader records remain confidential.