This list contains notable sex scandals in American history involving incumbent U.S. federal elected politicians and persons appointed with the consent of the United States Senate.[1][2][3] This list does not include politicians' sex crimes.[4][disputed ]
This list is ordered chronologically, with emphasis on modern scandals. Before the 1970s, American media did not cover political sex scandals extensively.[5] Additionally, outing politicians has increased since 1989.[6]
For all listed people, the scandal (or scandalous behavior) occurred while they were occupying their high federal offices, even if coverage was posthumous.
This list does not cover instances or accusations of sexism, homophobia, or exhibitionism that do not include or seek sexual activity.
A scandal is "loss of or damage to reputation caused by actual, accused, or apparent violation of morality or propriety."[7] Scandal is not the same as controversy or unpopularity. Misunderstandings, breaches of ethics, and cover-ups may result in scandals, depending on the amount of publicity generated and the seriousness of the alleged behavior.[8]
Federal politicians:
State and local politics:
For more than a year there have been floating rumors of improper intimacy between Mr. Key and Mrs. Sickles. They have occasionally attended parties, the opera and rode out together. Mr. Sickles has heard of these reports but would never credit them until Thursday evening. On that evening, just as a party was about breaking up at his house, Mr. Sickles received among his papers...
In his January deposition, the President, though finally confirming a sexual encounter with Ms. Flowers, was precise in denying Ms. Willey's report that he had sought to kiss her and feel her breasts
the uncomfortable dynamics of Hill's relationship with a staffer who was almost a decade her junior and a recent college graduate.
...a relationship with [...] a 22-year-old female subordinate on her payroll