# Plain Language Summary: H. RES. 12

This resolution asks the House Ethics Committee to investigate whether members of Congress who publicly made false claims about fraud in the 2020 presidential election violated the House Code of Conduct. If the committee finds that a member did violate the code by making these false written allegations, it can recommend punishments—including potentially removing that member from Congress entirely.

To understand what triggered this, you need to know the context: After the 2020 election, some members of Congress claimed there was widespread fraud that changed the election results. However, courts, state election officials, the Department of Homeland Security, and even former Defense Secretaries from both parties said these claims had been investigated and found to be baseless. All 50 states certified their results, and the courts rejected lawsuits challenging the election. Despite this, some members planned to formally object to the election results during Congress's official count of electoral votes on January 6, 2021.

This resolution essentially says: if members of Congress made written statements claiming election fraud that we now know to be false, that could be considered misconduct worthy of investigation and potential removal. It's about holding elected officials accountable for spreading false information in official capacities. The practical impact would be that members could face serious consequences—up to losing their seat—if they're found to have deliberately made false fraud allegations in writing. This sets a standard that members are expected to base their official statements on facts that have been verified, not on claims that have been repeatedly debunked.

Directing the Committee on Ethics to investigate whether Members who make false written allegations that fraud occurred in the conduct of the November 2020 Presidential election have violated the Code of Conduct and should be subject to appropriate sanction, including removal from the House.

Boyle, Brendan F.

 <p>This resolution requires the Committee on Ethics to investigate whether any Member of the House of Representatives violated the rules of the House by making a false written allegation that fraud occurred in the conduct of the November 2020 Presidential election. If the committee determines that such a violation occurred, it shall impose an appropriate sanction, including a recommendation that the Member be removed from the House of Representatives.</p>