The House voted Tuesday to prohibit sexual relationships between lawmakers and their employees, a remarkable rule change that brings the institution in line with the military and the private sector after a rash of sexual harassment and misconduct allegations roiled Capitol Hill. The prohibition, pushed by Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.), took immediate effect as Congress moved toward changing the system for reporting and adjudicating employees’ claims of sexual harassment. Amid a national reckoning over sexual misbehavior in the workplace, news reports exposing lawmakers’ secretive process for settling harassment complaints with taxpayer dollars pushed House leaders to confront criticisms of the system. The new rules bar lawmakers from engaging in “unwelcome sexual advances or conduct” toward colleagues and House employees but do not ban sexual relationships between lawmakers and staffers they do not supervise. Since October, four members of Congress have resigned over allegations of sexual harassment or misconduct.

Source: Washington Post February 06, 2018 17:37 UTC