Rep. Lauren Boebert made headlines when she publicly called out her fellow lawmakers near the Capitol steps over a wave of sexual misconduct scandals hitting Congress. The 39-year-old congresswoman, clearly frustrated, told reporters that lawmakers should turn to their faith instead. “Yeah, go to church, find Jesus. Like, I mean, why is everybody so horny here?” she said before walking away.
Her comments came during a turbulent week in Washington that saw two members of Congress resign. On Tuesday, Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales both stepped down under heavy pressure following sexual misconduct accusations. Lawmakers from both parties had already begun pushing for formal resolutions to expel the two men before their resignations.
Both men have been hit with serious allegations, fuelling wider concerns about the moral compass of lawmakers. Though, as the New York Post notes, Boebert herself has faced scrutiny over her judgement on matters of sexuality.
Boebert’s Beetlejuice past makes her moral stance hard to take seriously
Swalwell, a seven-term Democrat first elected in 2012, had been seen as a frontrunner to replace Gavin Newsom as California’s governor. That changed after allegations of sexual assault surfaced, including a claim by Lonna Drewes that he drugged and raped her in a West Hollywood hotel in 2018.
His attorney, Sara Azari, denied all allegations and called them a political hit job, but Swalwell resigned at 2:00 PM ET on Tuesday. He now faces criminal investigations by the Justice Department, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.
Tony Gonzales, a Republican from Texas first elected in 2020, also resigned after weeks of mounting pressure. He had previously admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.
He also sent inappropriate text messages to at least two former staffers, including requests for a “sexy pic” and asking one to “squeeze my balls.” He admitted to a “lapse in judgment” on a conservative talk radio show, and his resignation took effect at 11:59 PM on Tuesday.
The atmosphere in the House remains tense. Lawmakers have also discussed possible expulsion votes for other members under ethical investigations, including Cory Mills and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.
Democratic Rep. Nydia Velázquez posted on social media that “Congress should not tolerate representatives who abuse staff, betray public trust for personal gain, and generally violate their oath of office.” Republican Rep. Nancy Mace added, “Congress has a predator problem.” Meanwhile, lawmakers from both parties are also pushing to limit Trump’s use of pardons, adding to the growing list of tensions on Capitol Hill.
Boebert’s comments drew extra attention because of her own past behavior. In 2023, she went viral after being thrown out of a Denver performance of the musical Beetlejuice. Security cameras caught her getting physically close with her date, Aspen bar owner Quinn Gallagher, and vaping inside the theater.
She later said, “I was a little too eccentric. I am very known for having an animated personality. Maybe overly animated personality,” saying she had been singing and having a good time before being asked to calm down.
Despite her own history, Boebert is now positioning herself as someone victims of workplace misconduct on Capitol Hill can turn to. “If your boss is mistreating you, or someone else in the office, tell somebody – come to my office,” she told reporters on Wednesday.
She also said people could stay anonymous, adding, “Let one of us loudmouths get it out there for you. I’m happy to issue receipts on behalf of anyone.” This comes at a time when many lawmakers are refusing security protection despite rising political violence across the country.
A special election for Swalwell’s vacant 14th congressional district seat has already been scheduled for August 18, meaning the fallout from these resignations will continue to shape Washington politics for months. Boebert’s call for her colleagues to find religion may have been blunt, but whether it will have any real effect on the culture currently under scrutiny in Congress remains to be seen.
Published: Apr 19, 2026 01:29 am