this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2026
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politics

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[–] Instigate@aussie.zone 2 points 9 hours ago (3 children)

While I take your point and agree with the merits of power imbalances inherently muddying the waters of consent, at what stage are we infantilising adults with the capacity to consent? Without knowing the particulars of the circumstances, it’s very difficult to say that she acted in a predatory manner towards these people. In your comment, you suggest the idea that Boebert was the one ‘making moves’ on her staffers. Is there any verified information to suggest this was the case?

My broader question is this: are there any circumstances in which an employee can truly consent to sexual activity with their employer? I worry that answering ‘no’ to that question unfairly infantilises people, while I simultaneously worry that answering ‘yes’ justifies abuse of power to extract sexual favours.

It’s a very difficult puzzle, and one that I would personally argue heavily relies on context and the accounts of those who we fear may have been sexually abused. I’m reminded of the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky saga which posed very similar questions, and to which you’ve also alluded in your comment.

[–] dltk@lemmy.world 7 points 7 hours ago

https://ethics.house.gov/publications/code-official-conduct/

It's a violation of house ethics rules. Hypocrisy aside, its just simply against the rules of a body who's purpose is to make the laws that govern the rest of us. No tolerance or excuses for that.

[–] lightnsfw@reddthat.com 2 points 6 hours ago

Regardless of if the individuals she was fucking were fully consenting or not it's unethical. It's going to lead to favoritism of those individuals over the ones who aren't fucking her.

[–] joseki@lemmy.zip 5 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Pretty much any job anywhere will fire you on the spot for sleeping with a subordinate because it's obvious that it's a coercive power dynamic and bad for business and legal risk.

[–] Kurtismayfield@lemmy.zip 1 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Lol they are wheeling in a barely functioning octagenerian for votes, and have a staffer to correct him when he votes wrong. You think Congress cares about ethics or power dynamics?

[–] joseki@lemmy.zip 1 points 5 hours ago

Right my comment was intended to hilight how outside the norm this is