The House Ethics Committee is facing growing bipartisan pressure to accelerate its investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse, as a series of high-profile cases and the approaching midterm elections intensify scrutiny of the panel's often slow-moving process.
Lawmakers from both parties are calling for reforms to ensure that cases involving members accused of such misconduct are resolved more swiftly, arguing that the current timeline leaves the public in the dark and undermines accountability. The urgency comes as Reps. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Cory Mills (R-Fla.), and Max Miller (R-Ohio) — each facing allegations ranging from sexual harassment to domestic violence — are under investigation while seeking reelection.
Bipartisan Calls for Expedited Process
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus, criticized the committee's pace, stating, "One of the long-standing problems of House Ethics investigations is that they simply take too long — staff, the public, and the Members need the investigations and reporting to be quicker and responsive." She added that she and Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), chair of the Republican Women's Caucus, are working on proposals to prioritize staff voices and experiences, aiming to change a culture that has allowed abusers to act without accountability.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) also voiced frustration on social media, calling the current process a "massive problem" and alleging that "slow rolling investigations to protect party numbers is not due process. It is a cover up."
Gomez Investigation Intensifies
The Ethics Committee announced on Monday that it is investigating Gomez for allegedly engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer. Gomez has maintained that his actions were "consensual in nature and haven't violated the law or House Ethics rules." However, attorneys for the accuser told the committee that Gomez sexually harassed and assaulted her, and the Democratic Women's Caucus has demanded the committee release the status of the investigation before the 60-day blackout period preceding Election Day.
Cammack echoed that sentiment, saying the committee "should move with urgency, and if these allegations are substantiated, Representative Gomez must resign and any criminal conduct must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." She praised the accuser's courage and emphasized that "due process must be respected, but it cannot be used to run out the clock."
Gomez, who won his primary in June, will face progressive Democrat Angela Gonzales-Torres in the general election.
Miller and Mills Under Scrutiny
Miller, who is running against Democrat Brian Poindexter in November, faces allegations from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, including claims that he threw hot water at her, pointed a gun at her head, and broke their daughter's collarbone. Miller denies the allegations and has vowed to stay in the race. The Ethics Committee opened an investigation into him in early August over domestic abuse and illegal drug use allegations.
Mills, meanwhile, has been under investigation since November 2025 over a wide range of allegations, including campaign finance violations, sexual misconduct, and misuse of congressional resources. A state judge granted a restraining order to an ex-girlfriend who accused him of harassment and threats to release explicit images. Another woman initially told police he assaulted her in February 2025 but later recanted. Mills denies all wrongdoing.
Mills lost his primary this month to Republican Ryan Elijah, a former news anchor endorsed by Luna and Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.). Despite the loss, he remains in office until his term ends.
Criticism and Calls for Reform
Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.) told CNN that "Cory Mills is still in Congress a year and a half after criminal investigations [and] abuse, and we need real reform that's going to ensure that members of Congress are actually held accountable." He added that the investigations "take far too long," making Congress "a safe haven for too many abusers."
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has consistently deferred to the Ethics Committee when asked about allegations, telling reporters before the August recess that "the key word there is allegation" and that the process should "shake out."
The committee has previously ended investigations when lawmakers resigned, as seen with former Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who left Congress in April amid misconduct allegations. The current pressure highlights a broader push for transparency and accountability in Congress, with some lawmakers linking the issue to midterm campaign dynamics and women lawmakers' efforts to reform the system.
As the midterms approach, the Ethics Committee's handling of these cases will likely remain a focal point for voters and advocacy groups demanding swifter justice.
