CONGRESS MEMBERS ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION OR UNSEEMLY BEHAVIOR

CONVICTED/SENTENCED:

Bob Menendez (D-NJ) – SENATOR ✓ CONVICTED

  • Sentenced to 11 years in prison (January 2025)
  • Bribery, acting as foreign agent for Egypt, wire fraud
  • Accepted gold bars, cash ($480K+), Mercedes-Benz
  • First sitting senator convicted as foreign agent
  • Permanently barred from holding public office in NJ

George Santos (R-NY) – FORMER HOUSE ✓ EXPELLED & CONVICTED

  • Expelled December 2023 (only Republican ever expelled)
  • Pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft (August 2024)
  • Sentenced to 87 months in prison (April 2025)
  • Stole campaign funds for Hermès, Botox, OnlyFans, personal expenses
  • Fabricated entire biography including education, employment, heritage
  • Trump commuted his sentence in October 2025

ETHICS COMMITTEE INVESTIGATIONS – HOUSE:

Matt Gaetz (R-FL) – Report released December 2024

  • “Substantial evidence” of prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use
  • Paid $90,000+ to 12 women for sex (2017-2020)
  • Had sex with 17-year-old girl
  • Accepted impermissible gifts
  • Obstructed congressional investigation
  • Resigned November 2024 (briefly nominated for Attorney General, withdrew)

Andy Ogles (R-TN) – Under investigation

  • Referred to Ethics Committee August 2024
  • Campaign finance violations

Cory Mills (R-FL) – Under investigation

  • Referred to Ethics Committee August 2024
  • Allegations of improper conduct

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) – Under investigation

  • Referred to Ethics Committee September 2023
  • Campaign finance violations

Ronny Jackson (R-TX) – Under investigation

  • Referred to Ethics Committee March 2024
  • Hostile work environment allegations

Wesley Hunt (R-TX) – Under investigation

  • Referred to Ethics Committee March 2024

Troy Nehls (R-TX) – Under investigation

  • Referred to Ethics Committee December 2023

Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) – Report released

  • Pulled fire alarm in Capitol to delay vote
  • Censured by House

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) – Report released 2025

  • Accepted impermissible gifts (Met Gala attendance)
  • Underpaid vendors
  • Found liable but paid restitution

Mike Kelly (R-PA) – Investigation closed

  • Insider trading allegations (2025)
  • Cleared by Ethics Committee

Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) – Lost jurisdiction

  • Failed to disclose stock transactions 2019-2020
  • Lost reelection 2022

OTHER NOTABLE CASES:

Henry Cuellar (D-TX) – Under federal indictment

  • Bribery charges involving Azerbaijan
  • Ongoing trial

Clarence Thomas (SCOTUS) – Not Congress but relevant

  • Undisclosed luxury gifts from Harlan Crow
  • Private jet travel, yacht trips
  • Real estate deals

Samuel Alito (SCOTUS) – Not Congress but relevant

  • Luxury fishing trip with billionaire Paul Singer
  • Undisclosed gifts

KEY PATTERN: Republicans have been systematically trying to weaken or eliminate the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC), the only independent ethics watchdog.

This list includes only members with credible, documented allegations from:

  • House Ethics Committee reports
  • Federal indictments
  • DOJ investigations
  • Proven violations
Scroll to Top