Who holds Congress accountable? A look at the invisible ethics system for lawmakers

PBS NewsHour
by Lisa Desjardins
March 12, 2026
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2 min read

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Congress has an 'invisible ethics system' for lawmakers, with some members facing investigations.

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Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins examined the ethics oversight system for lawmakers and found multiple sitting members of Congress currently face active ethics investigations. The report reveals details about the "largely invisible system" that polices congressional rule violations. Desjardins provides specific numbers of lawmakers under investigation through this congressional ethics process.

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