Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) ignited a significant debate on Capitol Hill on Monday night, April 7, 2026, when she publicly accused members of Congress, spanning both political parties, of sexually harassing their staff and interns. Luna's strong condemnation, delivered via social media platform X, called for an immediate cessation of such behavior and underscored her intent to convene a conference call to reinforce the illegality of sexual harassment within congressional offices.
The Florida congresswoman's direct and unvarnished statements quickly garnered widespread attention. "I’m about to do a conference all-call to explain to members on both sides that it is illegal to sexually harass staff and interns," Luna posted. She then added, "You all need to pull your s*** together. Stop molesting the staff! Freaks." This blunt message bypassed traditional diplomatic language, signaling Luna's frustration with alleged misconduct among her peers.
Luna's public pronouncements did not emerge in isolation. Hours prior to her viral post, she had amplified a report from San Antonio Express-News journalist Bayliss Wagner concerning allegations against Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas. According to the report, Gonzales allegedly made more than a dozen requests for nude photographs from a female staffer over a three-day period during his 2020 congressional campaign, despite the staffer repeatedly declining. In response to these specific allegations, Luna stated, "NO means NO," and declared her support for removing Gonzales from the House.
Extending her call for accountability, Luna also advocated for the expulsion of Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida. However, the reasons for this call were distinct from the sexual harassment allegations. Cherfilus-McCormick is currently facing over two dozen ethics violation counts, according to The Hill, which has raised the possibility of an expulsion vote in the House. Luna’s statement, "I’d vote to expel both him and Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. Both need to go," indicated her view that both situations warranted removal from office, albeit for different forms of alleged misconduct.
Further intensifying the conversation, attorney Cheyenne Hunt, representing the progressive advocacy organization Gen-Z For Change, disclosed on Monday that she is working with multiple women who are preparing to publicly accuse Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California of sexual harassment and "even alleged abuse." Hunt characterized the anticipated disclosures as "pretty shocking." These pending allegations introduce an additional layer of complexity, particularly as Swalwell is reportedly positioning himself for California’s 2026 gubernatorial race. As of Monday, no formal legal complaints had been publicly filed in connection with the Swalwell matter, with Hunt indicating that the women are still navigating the process of coming forward.
The reactions to Luna's posts on X were varied. Some users applauded her willingness to publicly address an issue that many believe has long been a whispered secret within the halls of Congress, suggesting a culture of predatory behavior towards staff. Others, however, challenged Luna to provide specific names and evidence rather than broad accusations, questioning whether a social media post would lead to tangible accountability.
As of the immediate aftermath of Luna's statements, there was no public response from Representatives Gonzales, Cherfilus-McCormick, or Swalwell regarding the allegations or Luna's calls for their expulsion. Luna's actions, however, have made it unequivocally clear that at least one member of Congress believes the institution's tolerance for workplace misconduct, particularly sexual harassment, has reached its limit and requires urgent intervention. The unfolding situation highlights ongoing scrutiny of ethical standards and workplace culture within the legislative branch.
