The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly backed a measure to force the disclosure of lawmakers who used taxpayer funds to settle sexual harassment claims. The resolution, introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., would require the House Ethics Committee to preserve and publicly release records related to monetary settlements involving sexual misconduct.

Background

Massie, a frequent advocate for transparency, argued that gaps in reporting requirements enacted in 2018 may still allow taxpayer-funded settlements to remain hidden. The Kentucky lawmaker said he discovered there were no reported cases involving any members repaying sexual harassment settlements since then.

The resolution would specifically direct the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to publicly report sexual misconduct cases involving lawmakers and their staff that resulted in taxpayer-funded settlements, along with the total amount of taxpayer money spent. “We need to know what’s been going on here in the House of Representatives in order to convince the people and assure the people that we are conducting the people’s business with the utmost integrity and treating offices and employees of this institution with the respect they serve,” Massie said.

The final vote was 420-0-1, with no lawmaker speaking against the resolution during debate on the House floor. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., was the lone lawmaker to vote “present,” arguing the vote was “nothing more than political theater” after she released information earlier this year showing the federal government paid out more than $330,000 to settle sexual harassment claims since the early 2000s.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.