WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2026 — A bipartisan group of lawmakers is advancing a proposal that would require public disclosure of sexual harassment settlements involving members of Congress, including agreements funded through taxpayer-backed accounts. The effort, led in part by Republican Representatives Nancy Mace, Anna Paulina Luna and Lauren Boebert, has drawn support from several Democrats and could move forward through a discharge petition if it stalls in committee.
The resolution would seek to publish records of past settlements and related allegations, particularly in cases where nondisclosure agreements or so-called “hush money” payments were used. Supporters argue that transparency is necessary to restore public trust. “I would love to see every congressman who’s ever had to pay a settlement to a staffer,” Ms. Boebert said this week, adding that such conduct “shouldn’t be happening here.”
Ms. Mace said she plans to file the resolution as privileged, a procedural step that could force a vote within days. “We have high standards,” she said. “We promise our constituents integrity.” Critics of the measure predict it will be referred to committee, where similar efforts have previously stalled.
The push comes amid renewed scrutiny of records related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee said they are investigating whether the Department of Justice properly handled documents from 2019 involving allegations made by a survivor who accused former President Donald Trump of misconduct when she was a minor. Mr. Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, and no charges have been filed against him in connection with those claims.
In a statement posted online, Oversight Democrats said they believe certain FBI interview records appear to be missing from a public database of Epstein-related materials. They cited gaps in document serial numbers — often called Bates numbers — as evidence that some pages may not have been released. The Justice Department has denied deleting records and said any temporary removals were for redactions related to privacy or ongoing investigations.
“Nothing has been deleted,” a Justice Department spokesperson said, adding that documents are withheld only if they are duplicates, privileged, or part of an active federal inquiry.
Some lawmakers, including Representative Thomas Massie, have criticized the pace of prosecutions stemming from the Epstein case. Speaking outside the Capitol, Mr. Massie said Congress has oversight authority over the Justice Department and called for greater transparency in charging decisions. He pointed to high-profile figures overseas who have faced investigation or arrest, while noting that U.S. authorities have not announced comparable actions.
Representative Mace went further, expressing skepticism that additional indictments will occur. “I have no confidence in our justice system,” she said, while acknowledging that any conclusions about intelligence ties or broader conspiracies remain unproven.
Legal analysts caution that allegations circulating online must be distinguished from substantiated findings. Courts have not determined that the Justice Department engaged in a cover-up, and officials maintain that the Epstein investigation resulted in prosecutions, including that of Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a prison sentence.
Meanwhile, survivors of Epstein’s abuse attended the recent State of the Union address wearing symbolic pins and scarves to honor victims. Advocates say their presence was meant to keep attention focused on accountability rather than political theater.
The proposed transparency resolution and the renewed debate over Epstein-related files illustrate a rare moment of bipartisan alignment around disclosure. Whether that alignment translates into legislative action remains uncertain. For now, the questions center less on rhetoric and more on records — what has been released, what remains under review, and whether Congress will compel broader disclosure in the months ahead.
