Staffers urge Congress to pass new sexual misconduct laws following Eric Swalwell scandal

In the wake of sexual assault allegations against ex-Rep. Eric Swalwell and other prominent politicians, a group of congressional staffers is pushing leadership to improve the process for reporting misconduct.

In a letter sent to House and Senate leadership on Tuesday, the Congressional Progressive Staff Association advocated for increased legal resources for staff reporting misconduct, a new process for investigating allegations of misconduct in congressional offices and more avenues for staffers to resolve complaints without going to court.

The Congressional Progressive Staff Association, which represents congressional staff who identify as progressive, is asking lawmakers to enact laws codifying the changes rather than implementing them through an internal rule-making process. The group is also asking for congressional leaders to compile resources for staff about how to report misconduct.

"Any one of these changes would be enough to make a difference," said Michael Suchecki, a congressional staffer and spokesperson for the group. "If we can make this process work for at least one more person such that they feel safe coming into work or staying in public service, it's worth it."

In the letter, the staffers say the current process for reporting misconduct is opaque and unfamiliar to many congressional staff members. It's also typical for congressional offices to conduct their own investigations into allegations of workplace misconduct because independent investigations can be cost-prohibitive, the group says.

The group began looking into the process for reporting misconduct after Swalwell and former Rep. Tony Gonzales resigned, Suchecki said. Swalwell, a Democrat who represented Castro Valley, resigned in April, days after the Chronicle published a story detailing allegations he sexually assaulted a former staffer, which he denies. Gonzalez, a Texas Republican, resigned the same day after admitting he had a sexual relationship with a staffer who later killed herself.

The letter also comes a day after Politico published allegations from an ex-girlfriend of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, who says he sexually assaulted her. Platner, who won the Democratic primary last month, is facing calls to drop out of the race quickly so the party can appoint a replacement nominee for the general election in November. He says the allegations are false.

The staffers are hoping to see changes before Congress leaves for its summer recess in August, though Suchecki acknowledged that would be a tight turnaround for passing legislation. At the very latest, he said the group hopes there will be improvements in place by the end of the year, in time for the next Congress.

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This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 10:37 AM.