Power, pressure, and silence have shaped workplace culture on Capitol Hill for years. Behind the public speeches, televised hearings, and political strategy meetings, many congressional staffers describe a far different reality — one marked by harassment, fear of retaliation, and systems that often fail to protect them.

CNN spoke with more than a dozen current and former female congressional staffers who shared accounts of sexual harassment involving lawmakers and senior staff members. Most of the women chose not to file formal complaints. Many said the risk to their careers felt greater than the possibility of accountability.

The accounts reveal a workplace where political influence, professional dependence, and unclear reporting systems create an environment that discourages victims from speaking openly.

Staffers Describe Disturbing Encounters

Several women shared incidents that ranged from inappropriate comments to unwanted physical advances.

One former congressional staffer said a congressman approached her after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and asked her to participate in a threesome. Months later, the same lawmaker allegedly pulled her onto his lap and attempted to kiss her inside his private office after late-night votes.

Another former intern said a male chief of staff contacted her in 2023 while she was job hunting. According to screenshots reviewed by CNN, he allegedly sent explicit messages, said he would “own” her, and offered money through Venmo in exchange for sexual compliance.

A senior leadership staffer recalled receiving texts from a member of Congress in 2017 asking about the color of her underwear while he could physically see her nearby.

None of the women involved in those incidents reported the behavior to the House Ethics Committee. Several said the fear of losing professional opportunities outweighed any confidence in the complaint system.

One staffer explained the situation bluntly:

“We’re not silent because the harm wasn’t serious enough — we’re silent because we know we work in an environment where silence feels safer than speaking.”

Another described the fear of becoming known as “a problem staffer” within the close-knit congressional network.

Why Many Staffers Never File Complaints

Capitol Hill operates through relationships, recommendations, and reputation. Staffers often move between offices, committees, lobbying firms, and political organizations. That interconnected structure leaves many employees worried that reporting misconduct could permanently damage their careers.

One senior staffer said identifying a complainant on Capitol Hill is often easy, even when anonymity is promised.

“The Hill is a very small place,” she said. “If you do move forward with a claim, it is incredibly easy to figure out who made that allegation.”

Several women told CNN they relied instead on informal warning systems among female staffers. Private conversations and quiet recommendations often replaced formal reporting.

Rather than filing complaints, some women chose to avoid certain lawmakers, leave offices quietly, or exit Capitol Hill entirely.

One former staffer who sought therapy after harassment by her chief of staff said the counseling helped emotionally but offered little accountability.

“It helped me process everything, but it stopped way short of accountability,” she said.

Another woman contacted the House Ethics Committee to understand the reporting process. After being asked to identify herself and disclose her office, she decided not to move forward because she no longer trusted that confidentiality would be protected.

The Complex Web of Reporting Offices

Congress restructured parts of its harassment reporting system in 2018 after pressure from the #MeToo movement. The reforms removed mandatory counseling and waiting periods before victims could formally file complaints. Taxpayer-funded settlements also ended.

Still, many staffers say the updated process remains difficult to understand and emotionally exhausting.

Several offices now handle workplace misconduct complaints, including:

- The House Ethics Committee
- The Office of Congressional Workplace Rights
- The Office of Congressional Conduct
- The Office of Employee Advocacy
- The Office of Employee Assistance

While each office serves a different purpose, critics argue that the structure creates confusion rather than support.

Florida Republican Rep. Kat Cammack, who is helping lead a bipartisan task force on harassment reform, said victims should not have to navigate multiple offices during a crisis.

“If something, God forbid, were to happen, they have a litany of doors to knock on,” Cammack said. “You want to have a one-stop shop.”

The Office of Congressional Workplace Rights handles employee complaints involving harassment and discrimination. Staffers must file complaints within 180 days of the alleged misconduct. The process may include administrative hearings, mediation, or civil litigation.

Nancy Baldino, a spokesperson for the office, said employees can confidentially consult advisors who explain legal protections and complaint procedures.

Yet attorneys familiar with the process say it often requires legal expertise and extensive documentation that younger staffers may struggle to manage alone.

Lawyer Les Alderman, who has represented multiple congressional employees, told CNN the system demands organization and procedural knowledge that most workers simply do not possess.

Public Cases Highlight the Cost of Speaking Out

Several women who publicly challenged misconduct later described severe personal and professional consequences.

Winsome Packer, believed to have received the largest publicly known congressional sexual harassment settlement, filed allegations against former Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings in 2010 through the Office of Compliance, now called the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.

After four years of legal proceedings, Packer settled for $220,000. According to documents reviewed by CNN, the settlement required her to leave her position.

Packer later said the fallout dramatically altered her life.

“I refuse to say that my life is ruined,” she told CNN. “But basically, I’ve lost my home, I’ve lost the security that I had, I lost my country.”

Hastings denied wrongdoing before his death in 2021.

Another former congressional aide, Lauren Greene, pursued claims against former Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold after she was fired from her position. Greene eventually received an $84,000 settlement.

She admitted she likely would not have filed a complaint while still employed.

“That’s so intimidating, as a current employee,” Greene said.

Farenthold denied portions of the allegations and resigned from Congress in 2018 during an ethics investigation. He died in 2024.

Critics Question the Ethics Committee’s Effectiveness

The House Ethics Committee remains the primary body responsible for investigating lawmakers. The committee can recommend censures, sanctions, reprimands, or expulsions.

Critics, however, argue the process rarely delivers meaningful accountability.

One source familiar with congressional ethics investigations referred to the committee as “the member protection service,” claiming political priorities often outweigh transparency.

The committee declined CNN’s request for comment. Following the resignations of Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales amid allegations involving staffers, the panel released a statement emphasizing its history of investigating sexual misconduct claims and protecting witness confidentiality.

The Office of Congressional Conduct can independently investigate allegations and refer findings to the Ethics Committee. Yet the office has limits. It lacks subpoena power and cannot impose legal penalties itself.

CNN analyzed public reports from the Office of Congressional Conduct dating back to 2009. The review found that only 13% of referrals led to formal investigative subcommittees inside the Ethics Committee.

More than half entered a less transparent review process known as “18(a),” where the chairman and ranking member review allegations privately without a defined timeline.

For many staffers, the process feels uncertain from beginning to end.

A Young Staffer’s Complaint Reached a Dead End

One former congressional intern described what happened after she filed a harassment complaint against Democratic Rep. Jim Costa.

According to transcripts reviewed by CNN, the woman alleged that during a California State Society party in February 2020, Costa approached her, asked her to dance, and encouraged her to “shimmy” with him. She later claimed he asked if she had a boyfriend and told her he was single while winking at her inside House office buildings.

The woman initially filed her complaint under a pseudonym in 2023 after becoming a full-time staffer.

Following interviews with investigators from the Office of Congressional Ethics, now called the Office of Congressional Conduct, she said communication largely stopped. Eventually, the Ethics Committee informed her the complaint would be dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

Costa’s office pointed to the dismissal as proof the allegations lacked support.

His spokeswoman, Lisa Ortiz, said Costa fully cooperated with investigators and noted that both reviewing offices recommended dismissal.

The former staffer later described the investigation itself as overwhelming. She had no lawyer during interviews and became anxious after investigators planned to contact additional people connected to the case.

In emails reviewed by CNN, she eventually asked investigators to stop pursuing the matter.

“I think we need to end this,” she wrote. “It’s too many people.”

Investigators replied that they understood her concerns but still needed to complete the process.

Congress Promised Reform, But Staffers Want More

The 2018 reforms addressed several long-standing complaints about Capitol Hill’s handling of harassment cases. Mandatory mediation periods disappeared, and staffers gained better access to legal support.

Still, many current and former employees believe the changes only scratched the surface.

Lawmakers from both parties are now discussing broader reforms. Female members of Congress from Democratic and Republican caucuses are reviewing possible updates that may include streamlined reporting systems or independent bodies outside Congress to handle complaints.

Rep. Kat Cammack said workplace dynamics inside congressional offices can create dangerous pressure.

“Members have often an inflated sense of self,” she said, adding that staff frequently avoid challenging powerful lawmakers.

Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest recently said the committee needs additional funding, staffing, and potentially more centralized authority over investigations.

Others caution that due process must remain part of any ethics investigation, especially because severe findings can lead to expulsion votes in Congress.

One former Ethics Committee member defended the panel’s slower procedures, saying investigators are attempting to balance fairness with urgency.

“These people do have due process rights,” the former member told CNN.

The Culture of Silence Still Shapes Capitol Hill

Despite public scrutiny and years of reform discussions, many congressional staffers still believe the system favors institutions over victims.

Several women interviewed by CNN described the emotional toll of staying quiet while continuing to work around powerful individuals accused of misconduct.

One former staffer said the experience permanently changed how she viewed Capitol Hill.

“It doesn’t really seem like the system is set up to benefit the victims,” she said.

Another described the culture in even harsher terms:

“For women, a lot of it is just suck it up, bear it, get through it, stay until you can’t anymore.”

Those words capture the central issue facing Congress today. Formal reforms exist on paper, yet many staffers still view silence as the safer option. Until reporting systems become easier to trust, fears surrounding retaliation, exposure, and career damage are likely to continue shaping how harassment cases unfold behind the scenes.

Congress has expanded reporting systems and introduced reforms, yet many Capitol Hill staffers still avoid filing complaints due to fears of retaliation, damaged careers, and public exposure. Many women rely on informal warning networks instead of official channels because the process often feels unclear and ineffective.

Lawmakers from both parties are now considering new reforms, including simpler reporting systems and independent oversight, as concerns about accountability continue across Congress.