HerFactDesk

She/Her

Fact-checking political claims. Covering Democratic candidates with a larger focus on Democratic women. Amplifying women's voices in government.

[HerFactDesk @HerFactDesk]

Welcome to HerFactDesk. We fact-check political claims, challenge misinformation, and elevate Democratic candidates—especially women.

We believe in credible sources, transparency, and accountability.

Facts over spin. Every time.

#HerFactDesk #SheShed

[🖤🫦SammieSam🫦🖤 @BarryBleunNila2]

If the United States did something similar for post partum mother's there would be more time to dx post partum depression.

Leading to more women being able to guide themselves and other women through post partum depression leading to healthier babies.

#SheShed

[Holly 🇺🇸🦅 @Msdesignerlady]

Another historic win in Mississippi flips the senate.
Sen. Scott Colom the first black candidate to win since Reconstruction. 🎉💥
#ScottColom
#SheShed
#DV1

[HerFactDesk @HerFactDesk]

🤣💯

[SANDRA🟦🟧NEVER OPEN INSTAGRAM DM LINKS @meliorist59]

@HerFactDesk @AncientMHDragon @esjesjesj @TPUSA

[Maj. (Ret.) Richard Ojeda @Ojeda4America]

The 120th Congress will impeach Pete Hegseth. Tick tock asshole.

[HerFactDesk @HerFactDesk]

@ewindham3 @AncientMHDragon @esjesjesj @TPUSA Yep, huge pedo and abuser (both sexual and physical) epidemic on the right.

[HerFactDesk @HerFactDesk]

@AncientMHDragon @KingLearJett @esjesjesj @TPUSA Gave plenty, you just choose to ignore it because you can't handle the fact I am right.

[HerFactDesk @HerFactDesk]

@AncientMHDragon @esjesjesj @TPUSA You clearly didn't read my original reply then or your comprehension skills are abysmally bad. Here I will highlight the key part you are ignoring.

[HerFactDesk @HerFactDesk]

@KingLearJett @AncientMHDragon @esjesjesj @TPUSA Fully agree, its why I gave the list of examples of republican sex pests in my response to him as well and now have muted him. Hes got literally no logical rebuttal.

[HerFactDesk @HerFactDesk]

https://t.co/Q8CNi3EJGK

[HerFactDesk @HerFactDesk]

@AncientMHDragon @KingLearJett @esjesjesj @TPUSA Your clear idiocy, bot.

[Ayanna Pressley @AyannaPressley]

Do you agree? We need to show that this agenda has strong support. Sign our petition at https://t.co/uD1q3pOb0z

[HerFactDesk @HerFactDesk]

@AncientMHDragon @esjesjesj @TPUSA They are a terrorist org that brainwashes young "conservatives" and openly (as seen in the video and by other credible reports) encourage the abuse of women.

[HerFactDesk @HerFactDesk]

@KingLearJett @AncientMHDragon @esjesjesj @TPUSA Its a bot account just a heads up. Someone that is scared to comment from their main or part of the typical Russian botnet that infests this site and spreads lies, misinformation and general bullshit.

[HerFactDesk @HerFactDesk]

She would be a million times better than sell out Jeffries.

[Popstonox @Popstonox]

Jennifer Welch backs Ayanna Pressley for Speaker of the House against Hakeem Jeffries

"This woman is a force. Not only do I want her to be Speaker of the House, let's run her in '28"

[HerFactDesk @HerFactDesk]

@AncientMHDragon @esjesjesj @TPUSA 👇🫵

[HerFactDesk @HerFactDesk]

Here have just a few

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS & SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, CHILD EXPLOITATION, AND DOMESTIC ABUSE — 2016–2026

A documented list of allegations, criminal proceedings, ethics findings, and consequences involving Republican federal and state lawmakers.

FEDERAL LAWMAKERS

Matt Gaetz (FL) — 2021–2024
House Ethics Committee found substantial evidence of sexual misconduct involving a 17-year-old, prostitution-related violations, and obstruction. Gaetz denied wrongdoing.
OUTCOME: Reelected in 2024; resigned November 2024. No criminal conviction or expulsion.
Max Miller (OH) — 2021–2026
Domestic abuse allegations involving former partners and his young daughter. Miller denied wrongdoing.
OUTCOME: Remained in Congress despite calls to resign. Lost November 2026 reelection. No criminal conviction established.
Cory Mills (FL) — 2025–2026
Domestic violence, threats, and harassment allegations involving former partners. House Ethics Committee investigated. No assault charges resulted from the February 2025 incident.
OUTCOME: Remained in Congress; lost August 2026 Republican primary.

Tony Gonzales (TX) — 2026
Admitted a sexual relationship with a congressional staffer. House Ethics Committee investigated possible misconduct and improper favoritism.
OUTCOME: Resigned April 14, 2026, amid pressure and possible expulsion. No criminal conviction.
Chuck Edwards (NC) — 2026
House Ethics Committee found persistent inappropriate behavior toward female staffers. Edwards disputed the sexual harassment characterization.
OUTCOME: CENSURED September 1, 2026, by a 413–2 vote. Withdrew reelection bid. Not expelled.
Tom Reed (NY) — 2021–2022
Accused of unwanted sexual touching involving a former lobbyist in 2017.
OUTCOME: Resigned May 2022 while under ethics investigation.

Patrick Meehan (PA) — 2018
Sexual harassment and retaliation allegations involving a female staffer; settlement disclosed.
OUTCOME: Resigned April 2018 during ethics investigation.
Blake Farenthold (TX) — 2017–2018
Sexual harassment and retaliation allegations involving a former aide. An $84,000 taxpayer-funded settlement became public.
OUTCOME: Resigned April 2018.
Trent Franks (AZ) — 2017
Sexual harassment inquiry after asking female staffers about serving as pregnancy surrogates.
OUTCOME: Resigned December 2017.

George Santos (NY) — 2023
Former prospective staffer alleged sexual harassment. House Ethics investigators did not substantiate that allegation.
OUTCOME: EXPELLED December 2023 for unrelated financial and ethics misconduct, not sexual harassment.
STATE LAWMAKERS — CASES INVOLVING MINORS
Ralph Shortey (OK senator) — 2017–2018
Pleaded guilty to child sex trafficking.
OUTCOME: Resigned. SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON.

Ray Holmberg (ND senator) — 2022–2025
Pleaded guilty to traveling abroad to engage in illicit sexual conduct involving minors.
OUTCOME: Resigned in 2022. SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON in March 2025.
RJ May (SC representative) — 2025–2026
Pleaded guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material.
OUTCOME: Resigned. SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 17 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON in January 2026.
Justin Eichorn (MN senator) — 2025–2026
Arrested in an undercover operation involving someone he believed was a 17-year-old girl. Pleaded guilty to attempted possession of child sexual abuse material.
OUTCOME: Resigned March 2025. SENTENCED TO 16 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON in September 2026.

David Elliott Pritt (WV delegate) — 2026
Pleaded guilty November 10, 2026, to attempted production of child sexual abuse material involving a minor.
OUTCOME: Resigned July 2026. Sentencing pending; faces 15–30 years.
Mike Folmer (PA senator) — 2019–2020
Pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material.
OUTCOME: Resigned. SENTENCED TO 1–2 YEARS IN PRISON, plus probation.
Rick Roeber (MO representative) — 2020–2021
Accused of sexually and physically abusing his children. Legislative ethics committee found the allegations credible.
OUTCOME: Elected November 2020 despite public allegations. EXPELLED April 2021 by a 153–0 vote. No criminal conviction reported.

David Stringer (AZ representative) — 2019
Historical allegations and charges involving sexual offenses against minors from the 1980s resurfaced. Charges were subsequently expunged.
OUTCOME: Resigned March 2019 during a legislative ethics investigation.
Dan Johnson (KY representative) — 2017
Accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old in an alleged 2013 incident. Denied wrongdoing.
OUTCOME: Remained in office initially; died by suicide December 2017. No conviction.
STATE LAWMAKERS — SEXUAL ASSAULT, HARASSMENT & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Aaron von Ehlinger (ID representative) — 2021–2022
Convicted of raping a 19-year-old legislative intern.
OUTCOME: Resigned April 2021. SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON, with eight years before parole eligibility.
Bryan Slaton (TX representative) — 2023
Legislative investigators found sexual misconduct involving an intoxicated 19-year-old aide and interference with the investigation.
OUTCOME: Resigned May 8, 2023. EXPELLED May 9 by a 147–0 vote.
Bob Young (OH representative) — 2023–2024
Convicted of domestic violence involving his wife.
OUTCOME: Resigned October 2023. Sentenced to probation and community service, not imprisonment.

Ty Burns (OK representative) — 2025
Pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic abuse and assault charges.
OUTCOME: Resigned effective October 1, 2025. Received suspended sentences; no prison time imposed.
Robert Forsythe (NH representative) — 2020
Charged with felony assault and domestic violence offenses involving a pregnant intimate partner.
OUTCOME: Resigned August 2020. The charges are not presented here as convictions.
Luke Simons (ND representative) — 2021
Accused of persistent inappropriate and threatening behavior toward women.
OUTCOME: EXPELLED March 4, 2021, by a 69–25 vote.

Neil Friske (MI representative) — 2024
Police investigated possible sexual assault and other offenses following an incident in Lansing. Friske denied wrongdoing.
OUTCOME: No criminal charges filed at the time of reporting. Lost Republican primary and completed his term.
William Brough (CA assemblyman) — 2019–2020
Sexual misconduct allegations. Legislative investigation substantiated inappropriate comments and unwanted touching.
OUTCOME: Removed from committee assignments. Lost 2020 primary.
Brian Ellis (PA representative) — 2019
Accused of sexual assault. Denied allegations.
OUTCOME: Resigned March 2019 following a formal complaint.

Jeff Hoover (KY representative) — 2017–2019
Sexual harassment allegations involving a female staffer; acknowledged inappropriate text messages and a settlement but denied harassment.
OUTCOME: Resigned as House Speaker, RETAINED legislative seat. Received public reprimand and $1,000 ethics fine. Did not seek reelection in 2020.

Tony Cornish (MN representative) — 2017
Sexual harassment allegations involving unwanted advances and inappropriate messages.
OUTCOME: Resigned November 2017.
ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY CASES
Michael Caruso (FL) — August 2026
Former Republican state representative, later appointed county clerk. Arrested on charges including child molestation, kidnapping, and child abuse involving a child under 12.
OUTCOME: Immediately suspended by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Pleaded not guilty; case pending. No conviction established.

ADAM HOFFMAN / KEN PAXTON'S OFFICE (TX) — 2026
Former Waco attorney Adam Hoffman was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child.
His trial ended with a hung jury.

Prosecutors working under Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton negotiated a plea agreement reducing the case to misdemeanors.
The initial agreement would have required just ONE DAY already served.
The judge rejected that proposed sentence and ultimately imposed 60 days.

Hoffman was RELEASED AFTER 29 DAYS IN JAIL.
The plea did not require sex-offender registration.
This was a prosecutorial decision involving Paxton's office—not an allegation that Paxton personally committed sexual abuse.

ADDITIONAL CASES — YOUNG REPUBLICANS, COLLEGE REPUBLICANS & CAMPUS CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS (2016–2026)

This section documents criminal convictions, sexual misconduct allegations, and separate controversies involving misogynistic remarks or jokes about sexual violence.

An allegation is not a conviction, and offensive speech is not proof of committing sexual assault.

SEXUAL ABUSE, TRAFFICKING & HARASSMENT CASES

GISELA CASTRO MEDINA — MINNESOTA COLLEGE REPUBLICANS (2021–2023)

Former chairwoman of the University of St. Thomas College Republicans.

Arrested in 2021 for participating in a child sex-trafficking conspiracy involving Republican political operative and donor Anton “Tony” Lazzaro.

Pleaded guilty in December 2022 to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and obstruction.

OUTCOME: SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON in September 2023, followed by five years of supervised release.

ANTON “TONY” LAZZARO — MINNESOTA GOP OPERATIVE (2021–2023)

Prominent Republican donor and political operative who worked with Castro Medina.

Convicted in March 2023 of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors and five counts of trafficking minors.

OUTCOME: SENTENCED TO 21 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON in August 2023.

JONATHAN HERNANDEZ — OKLAHOMA COLLEGE REPUBLICANS (2022)

Former state College Republicans chairman.

Arrested and charged with felony offenses involving alleged sexual misconduct with a 14-year-old.

OUTCOME: Pleaded guilty, received a five-year suspended sentence, and was required to register as a sex offender.

Following the arrest, College Republicans publicly condemned the conduct, and his Oklahoma Senate employment was terminated.

ARON LIONEL PEÑA III — TEXAS YOUNG REPUBLICANS / GOP STAFF (2022)

Former UTRGV Young Republicans leader, Texas GOP staffer, and district director for Republican Rep. Mayra Flores.

Multiple women accused him of sexual harassment, inappropriate advances, and abuse.

A civil lawsuit filed in October 2022 alleged he sexually assaulted a young woman affiliated with the Hidalgo County Teen Republicans.

Peña denied wrongdoing and maintained that the alleged encounter was consensual.

OUTCOME: Left Flores' congressional office in September 2022. The Texas GOP acknowledged investigating earlier allegations. No criminal conviction established.

MICHAEL FLORY — FORMER NATIONAL TEENAGE REPUBLICANS CHAIRMAN (2019)

Former leader of the National Teenage Republicans and Michigan Young Republicans.

Previously pleaded guilty to sexual battery arising from a 2006 incident involving a woman attending a Young Republicans convention. Sentenced in 2007 to five years in prison.

Indicted in 2019 on new rape allegations involving another woman.

OUTCOME: FOUND NOT GUILTY of the 2019 rape and sexual battery charges. His earlier conviction remains a separate historical case.

YOUNG REPUBLICANS — GROUP-CHAT CONTROVERSIES

The following incidents involve offensive messages, threats, or conduct-policy violations. They are NOT convictions for sexual assault.

NEW YORK YOUNG REPUBLICANS — OCTOBER 2025

A POLITICO investigation exposed messages involving leaders from several state Young Republicans organizations.

The conversations included racist and antisemitic slurs, praise for Hitler, and jokes about rape and sexual violence.

Named participants included Peter Giunta and Bobby Walker.

OUTCOME: The New York Republican State Committee voted to suspend authorization of its statewide Young Republicans organization. Several participants lost political employment opportunities or jobs.

ARIZONA & KANSAS YOUNG REPUBLICANS — OCTOBER 2025

Members of these organizations participated in the same leaked Telegram conversation.

Arizona Young Republicans chair Luke Mosiman was reported to have made a statement calling for the rape of a political opponent.

Kansas Young Republicans leaders also appeared in the messages.

OUTCOME: Kansas Republicans deactivated their statewide Young Republicans organization. Arizona Republican leaders publicly condemned the messages and demanded accountability.

No sexual assault conviction is established by these messages.

SAMUEL DOUGLASS — VERMONT STATE SENATOR / YOUNG REPUBLICANS (2025)

Republican state senator and Young Republicans leader identified as a participant in the leaked Telegram conversation.

The broader chat contained racist and antisemitic remarks and jokes about sexual violence.

OUTCOME: RESIGNED FROM THE VERMONT STATE SENATE in October 2025 after Republican leaders, including Gov. Phil Scott, called for his departure.

This was a political misconduct controversy, not a sexual assault prosecution.

COLLEGE CAMPUS CONTROVERSIES

TURNING POINT USA — FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY (2018)

Leaked campus chapter messages included racist remarks, jokes about rape, and references to sexualized cartoon depictions of minors.

Faculty members called for the organization's removal from campus.

OUTCOME: FIU declined to investigate the messages, citing free-speech considerations and finding no Student Code of Conduct violation.

FIU COLLEGE REPUBLICANS / TURNING POINT USA — 2026

A separate WhatsApp group involving conservative campus leaders contained racist, antisemitic, and misogynistic messages.

Named participants included:
• Abel Carvajal — Miami-Dade GOP secretary
• Dariel Gonzalez — former College Republicans recruitment chair
• Ian Valdes — campus Turning Point USA chapter president
OUTCOME:
• Carvajal resigned from his county GOP leadership position.
• Valdes stepped down as TPUSA chapter president.
• FIU imposed two-year suspensions on Carvajal and Gonzalez.
• The students challenged disciplinary actions in court.
These were campus conduct and discrimination controversies, not criminal convictions for sexual assault.

Castro Medina — U.S. Department of Justice:
https://t.co/MFjjYW07QL
Anton Lazzaro — U.S. Department of Justice:
https://t.co/ROdzLFPWqU
Jonathan Hernandez — reporting:
https://t.co/AplyE195mS
Aron Peña — Texas Public Radio:
https://t.co/qN19WAru5f
https://t.co/wCwKGGpuao

Michael Flory — 2019 acquittal:
https://t.co/rjnej2mr16

38–40. Young Republicans Telegram investigation:
https://t.co/2RYhxmAwLX

New York organization suspended:
https://t.co/H5JuzMzu6N
Vermont Senate records:
https://t.co/kk815k1aqC

FIU Turning Point USA, 2018:
https://t.co/QNKGZBchu3
FIU campus investigation, 2026:
https://t.co/xoGyXE4pgA

https://t.co/hzxocH4L90

House Ethics Committee historical sexual misconduct records:
https://t.co/Ceep3KkLwd
Matt Gaetz — Official Ethics Report:
https://t.co/Qal2wauEWS

Max Miller:
https://t.co/k1jTTtryKI
Cory Mills — House Ethics Committee:
https://t.co/ekT4eDFFxN
Tony Gonzales:
https://t.co/y4CHpHdXkU

Chuck Edwards:
https://t.co/I12l0x3YZR
Matt Gaetz, George Santos and other federal investigations:
https://t.co/cS5w5yjLed
Ralph Shortey — U.S. Department of Justice:
https://t.co/hSCvCZFhNz

Ray Holmberg — U.S. Department of Justice:
https://t.co/dmgCL0oTc4

RJ May — U.S. Department of Justice:
https://t.co/RQvMtGAaG2
Justin Eichorn:
https://t.co/YzSmSl2Mn0
David Elliott Pritt — U.S. Department of Justice:
https://t.co/3Ey5lb2ihf

Rick Roeber:
https://t.co/WmJb9sJP59
Bryan Slaton:
https://t.co/e8s3O184FU
Ty Burns:
https://t.co/PyGFXIAe5K

Luke Simons — ND Legislature:
https://t.co/iEREEbQypg
William Brough:
https://t.co/LR19l4NQue
Michael Caruso — Florida law enforcement:
https://t.co/AgTEyiDaFQ

Ken Paxton / Adam Hoffman — PolitiFact:
https://t.co/rVGt2nlhDS

#HerFactDesk #SheShed

[Dittie @DittiePE]

Alina Habba is having a very bad week.

She just lost her $50 million contract with the family of a Venezuelan banker Trump pardoned weeks after she was hired. The company cited a “failure to perform duties.” She’ll reportedly keep the $8 million signing bonus and $6.5 million already paid.

And now New Jersey’s Office of Attorney Ethics has filed disciplinary charges over her handling of a sexual harassment complaint at Trump’s National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Here’s what happened.

A 21-year-old waitress working at Trump’s Bedminster golf club accused her supervisor of sexual harassment, including demands for sex in exchange for keeping her job.

Habba, a paying member of the club, befriended the young woman, persuaded her to stop communicating with her attorney, and helped negotiate a $15,000 settlement favorable to the club.

Her office then prepared an NDA containing financial penalties for discussing the allegations, despite a New Jersey law prohibiting confidentiality agreements designed to conceal workplace harassment claims.

The waitress later sued Habba and the club. That resulted in a $400,000 settlement.

And here’s the kicker: New Jersey ethics investigators say Habba acknowledged during an interview that her conduct violated two professional ethics rules. The complaint also cites her conflict of interest as a club member who was supposedly acting as a neutral party.

She now faces a disciplinary hearing that could put her law license at risk, including possible disbarment.

Trump is furious at the New York Times for reporting the story, insisting he had nothing to do with the harassment.

Two very expensive problems for Alina Habba. And neither one is going away quietly.

[Kris @DammitKAdler]

https://t.co/NFUz7cReyx One of many in a huge b0t network

Check what follows you before you follow others????

[Holly 🇺🇸🦅 @Msdesignerlady]

The War Powers Act is law, the Resolution passed for congress to enforce it, Trump has blatantly disregarded its enforcement.

The "Commander In Chief" is culpable for any illegal orders Hegseth has followed.

Massie laid out the groundwork for both impeachments.
#SheShed