All articles tagged with #staffer
A staffer for Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) was struck by lightning while walking to a dentist appointment in Staten Island, experiencing a burning sensation, tingling and severe pain; he was hospitalized overnight and released. The incident highlights how unlikely lightning strikes are (CDC: odds under 1 in a million) and comes with general safety guidance to seek shelter and avoid metal objects during storms.
The House Ethics Committee opened an inquiry into Rep. Jimmy Gomez over allegedly inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer, highlighting a push to broaden prohibitions and overhaul how misconduct is reported. Gomez acknowledged past personal indiscretions but said he did not violate rules or the law, while lawmakers pursue a bipartisan reform package that would bar relationships with all congressional staff and create a streamlined reporting process—though passage may face Senate hurdles and enforcement debates.
Rep. Andy Ogles said a staffer posted an anti-LGBTQ message on his official X account during Pride Month, calling the post stupid and saying the employee was reprimanded. The message, which claimed 'Homosexuality has no place in America' and referenced 'Nuclear Family Month,' drew mild criticism from some fellow Republicans and underscored ongoing culture-war tensions over LGBTQ rights and Pride celebrations.
Rep. Andy Ogles deleted a post from his official X account reading 'Homosexuality has no place in America. Happy Nuclear Family Month' and blamed a staffer for posting it; he says the employee has been reprimanded. The post drew bipartisan condemnation from Republicans and Democrats, including Mike Lawler, Ted Cruz and Steve Scalise. It follows previous inflammatory remarks by Ogles, and polling shows waning GOP support for same-sex marriage.
Axios reports that Rep. Chuck Edwards's interactions with a young female staffer—from compliments and dinners to personal outings and a farewell poem—left her fearing retaliation and helped spur a House Ethics Committee review into alleged misconduct, which Edwards denies.
Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales says he will retire as the House considers expelling him over an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide, ending his bid for reelection amid the scandal.
Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales says he will resign from the House amid an Ethics Committee investigation into an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide, planning to retire when Congress returns; his move follows Rep. Eric Swalwell's departure amid misconduct allegations and comes after he had previously indicated he would not seek reelection.
Nonpartisan Office of Congressional Ethics says there is a substantial reason to believe Rep. Tony Gonzales had a sexual relationship with a subordinate, prompting the House Ethics Committee to open its own inquiry. Gonzales denies wrongdoing and has resisted resigning; the OCC report details text messages and an alleged coercive dynamic involving Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide in 2025. While OCC can’t impose discipline, its findings guide the Ethics Committee’s probe, which could take months or years as witnesses are subpoenaed and the panel decides next steps amid a Republican-era political mix and a Texas runoff.
Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales says he will not resign following the release of text messages allegedly showing him seeking intimate photos from a former aide who later died by suicide, as he faces a competitive GOP primary and calls for his ouster; the live updates also touch on other Capitol Hill stories including DOJ- Epstein-file scrutiny and infrastructure/courthouse concerns.
CBS News reports newly revealed 2024 texts show Rep. Tony Gonzales asking an aide for a sexy photo, who pushes back; weeks later the aide died by suicide after her mental health declined amid allegations of an affair. Gonzales denies the affair, says he's been extorted, while the case draws bipartisan calls for resignation and shapes a GOP primary race.
Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales says he was blackmailed by someone threatening to reveal an alleged affair with a staffer, while he denies the affair and any misconduct.
Regina Santos-Aviles, an aide to Rep. Tony Gonzales, texted a colleague that she had an affair with the congressman; months later she died after being found critically burned, and the medical examiner ruled the death a suicide. Gonzales denies the affair and faces renewed pressure from rivals to step down as he runs for a fourth term in Texas while the primary unfolds.
State Sen. Dan McKeon resigned minutes before a floor vote on his expulsion over allegations of inappropriately touching a legislative staffer; an outside investigation said the conduct may violate the Legislature’s harassment policy but was not actionable sexual harassment, and McKeon faces misdemeanor charges (disturbing the peace) with a Jan. 26 court date, while Gov. Pillen will appoint his replacement.
RFK Jr.’s campaign has fired a staffer, Rita Palma, who expressed her priority of defeating President Joe Biden and suggested that supporting Kennedy was a strategic move to block Biden's reelection. The campaign director stated that Palma misrepresented her role and described a conversation that did not happen. Palma's dismissal follows revelations of her attendance at "Stop the Steal" rallies and promotion of election conspiracy theories. The campaign's awareness of her political leanings before hiring her remains unclear.
US Senator Ben Cardin expressed his anger and disappointment over a former staffer who allegedly recorded himself having sex in a Capitol Hill hearing room. Cardin called it a breach of trust and stated that the incident is being investigated by the US Capitol police. The identity of the ex-staffer and whether he was fired have not been confirmed. Another senator, Amy Klobuchar, mentioned that Cardin's office is handling the situation, while Joe Manchin joked about leaving Cardin alone. Cardin had previously announced his retirement in 2025 after serving three Senate terms.