Sexual misconduct on Capitol Hill: The problem that won't go away

The episode covers allegations of sexual misconduct against former Congressman Eric Swalwell, including claims of sexual assault by a former staffer who says she was unconscious during one incident. It examines the broader pattern of abuse in Congress, the 2018 reforms after the Me Too movement, and ongoing systemic failures in accountability, citing stalled ethics investigations and lack of enforcement. NPR interviews PBS correspondent Lisa Desjardins, who details how the current system still protects members and discourages reporting.

It delivers a clear, sourced breakdown of how power imbalances persist in Congress and why accountability mechanisms continue to fail despite reforms.

1. 01Multiple women have accused Eric Swalwell of sexual misconduct, including one anonymous accuser who alleges rape on two occasions, one while she was unconscious.
2. 02Congressional ethics processes remain slow and untrusted by staffers, with critics saying they favor protecting members over accountability.
3. 03Efforts like Nancy Mace’s subpoena to force disclosure of past misconduct settlements failed to produce results, highlighting institutional resistance.