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