Sexual assault and harassment in American politics (2017-2018)

• See also:
• Sexual assault and harassment
• Noteworthy sexual affairs
• Noteworthy criminal misconduct
• Noteworthy professional misconduct

Misconduct (2017-2018)

Sexual assault and harassment

Noteworthy sexual affairs

Noteworthy criminal misconduct

Noteworthy professional misconduct

See also: Misconduct in American politics (2017-2018) and Responses to sexual assault and harassment in American politics (2017-2018)

This page includes noteworthy individuals in the federal government, state and local governments, and party organizations accused of engaging in or facilitating sexual assault or harassment from 2017 to 2018.

We classify sexual assault and harassment using the definitions provided by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This page includes persons accused of assault or harassment who had criminal charges, civil suits, or professional complaints filed against them and individuals who did not have formal action taken against them.

Starting in October 2017, the #MeToo movement led to an increase in the number of women bringing forth allegations of sexual harassment and assault. #MeToo was sparked by allegations against Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein. See this page for more on #MeToo and responses by the federal government and state governments.

If you know of any allegations from 2017 to 2018 that should be posted here, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.

Sexual assault and harassment definitions

• The U.S. Department of Justice defines sexual assault as "any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by Federal, tribal, or State law, including when the victim lacks capacity to consent."
• The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defines sexual harassment as "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature."

Federal government

Click on the individual's name to visit their profile and learn more about the allegations against them.

Congress

• U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.)—Resigned
• U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.)
• U.S. Rep. Elizbeth Esty (D-Conn.)—Did not seek re-election
• U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas)—Resigned
• U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.)—Resigned
  • Resignation of Al Franken, 2018
• U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.)—Resigned
• U.S. Rep. Ruben Kihuen (D-Nev.)—Did not seek re-election
• U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan (R-Pa.)—Resigned
• Andrea Ramsey (D)—Suspended congressional campaign

Executive branch

• U.S. Forest Service Chief Tony Tooke—Resigned
• President Donald Trump (R)

Federal courts

• Judge Alex Kozinski—Resigned

State government

Click on the individual's name to visit their profile and learn more about the allegations against them.

Alaska

• State Rep. Justin Parish (D)—Did not seek re-election
• State Rep. Dean Westlake (D)—Resigned
• State Sen. David Wilson (R)

Arizona

• State Rep. Don Shooter (R)—Expelled

California

• State Asm. Travis Allen (R)
• State Asm. Raul Bocanegra (D)—Resigned
• State Asw. Autumn Burke (D)
• State Asm. Matt Dababneh (D)—Resigned
• State Asw. Cristina Garcia (D)
• State Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D)
• State Asm. Devon Mathis (R)
• State Sen. Tony Mendoza (D)—Resigned

Colorado

• State Sen. Randy Baumgardner (R)—Resigned
• State Sen. Larry Crowder (R)
• State Sen. Daniel Kagan (D)—Resigned
• State Rep. Steve Lebsock (D)—Expelled
• State Rep. Paul Rosenthal (D)
• State Sen. Jack Tate (R)
• State Court of Appeals Judge Laurie Booras—Resigned

Connecticut

• State Rep. Angel Arce (D)—Resigned

Florida

• State Sen. Jack Latvala (R)—Resigned
• Former state Rep. Ritch Workman (R)—Left office

Georgia

• State Sen. David Shafer (R)

Hawaii

• State Rep. Joseph Souki (D)—Resigned

Illinois

• State Rep. Lou Lang (D)
• State Sen. Ira Silverstein (D)

Indiana

• Attorney General Curtis Hill (R)

Iowa

• State Sen. Nate Boulton (D)—Suspended gubernatorial campaign

Kentucky

• State Sen. Julian Carroll (D)—Removed from leadership position
• State Rep. Jim DeCesare (R)—Did not seek re-election
• State Rep. Jeffrey Hoover (R)
• State Rep. Dan Johnson (R)—Left office
• State Rep. Brian Linder (R)—Did not seek re-election
• State Rep. Michael Meredith (R)

Louisiana

• Secretary of State Tom Schedler (R)—Resigned
• Judge Byron C. Williams

Maine

• State Rep. Dillon Bates (D)—Resigned

Maryland

• State Del. Curt Anderson (D)

Massachusetts

• State Sen. Stanley Rosenberg (D)—Resigned

Minnesota

• State Rep. Tony Cornish (R)—Resigned
• State Rep. Rod Hamilton (R)
• State Sen. Dan Schoen (D)—Resigned

Missouri

• Gov. Eric Greitens (R)—Resigned
  • Investigations of Missouri Governor Eric Greitens, 2018

Nebraska

• Supreme Court Judge Max Kelch—Resigned

New Mexico

• State Sen. Michael Padilla (D)
• State Rep. Carl Trujillo (D)

New York

• State Sen. Jeffrey Klein (D)
• State Asm. Steve McLaughlin (R)
• Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (D)—Resigned

North Carolina

• State Rep. Duane Hall (D)

Ohio

• State Rep. Wes Goodman (R)—Resigned
• State Sen. Cliff Hite (R)—Resigned
• State Rep. Rick Perales (R)

Oregon

• State Sen. Jeff Kruse (R)—Resigned

Pennsylvania

• State Rep. Thomas Caltagirone (D)
• State Sen. Daylin Leach (D)—Suspended congressional campaign
• State Rep. Nick Miccarelli (R)—Did not seek re-election

Tennessee

• State Rep. David Byrd (R)
• State Rep. Mark Lovell (R)—Resigned

Texas

• State Sen. Charles Schwertner (R)
• State Sen. Carlos Uresti (D)

Washington

• State Rep. Matt Manweller (R)—Resigned
• State Sen. Kevin Ranker (D)—Resigned
• State Rep. David Sawyer (D)

Wisconsin

• State Asm. Robert Brooks (R)
• State Asm. Josh Zepnick (D)

Wyoming

• Secretary of State Ed Murray (R)—Resigned

Local government

Click on the individual's name to visit their profile and learn more about the allegations against them.

• Louisville, KY, Councilman Dan Johnson (D)—Expelled
• Indianapolis, IN, Councilman Jeff Miller (R)—Resigned
• Orleans Parish, LA, Judge Byron C. Williams
• Fayetteville, AR, Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Wendt—Dismissed
• Denver, CO, Mayor Michael Hancock

Political parties

Party officials do not have profiles so the allegations against them are listed here.

• Republican National Committee Finance Chairman Steve Wynn: On January 27, 2018, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Rhonda McDaniel announced that she was accepting Wynn's resignation. Wynn, a casino owner and Republican donor who was picked for the position by President Donald Trump (R) after the 2016 presidential election, was the subject of a January 27 report by the Wall Street Journal where multiple women said that he had sexually assaulted or harassed them. Wynn denied the allegations and said that he resigned because he did not want to be a distraction.
• Florida Democratic Party Chairman Stephen Bittel: On November 17, 2017, Bittel resigned due to sexual misconduct allegations. The anonymous allegations were reported by Politico and included charges that Bittel made women uncomfortable with his remarks. In a statement announcing his resignation, Bittel said, "When my personal situation becomes distracting to our core mission of electing Democrats and making Florida better, it is time for me to step aside. I apologize for all who have felt uncomfortable during my tenure at the Democratic Party."