Tabloid news machine TMZ just so happened to launch a new bureau in Washington DC during a time of monumental political scandals that have prompted reckoning on Capitol Hill.
The last fortnight has seen Congress shaken by explosive allegations and resignations, with three representatives quitting their posts ahead of expulsion votes in the house.
Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned this week following an investigation that found she committed more than 20 ethics violations, including breaches of campaign finance laws, which she denies.
The (now former) Florida representative is accused of illegally funneling more than $5m worth of US disaster aid to her election campaign and spending the money on luxury items, including a $100,000 diamond ring.
Texas Republican Tony Gonzales left his role after admitting to an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide.
Sexual assault allegations, published by CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle, brought an end to Democrat Eric Swalwell's congressional career and his bid for governor of California.
Additional reports alleged that he sent unsolicited nude photos and graphic messages to women.
Investigations have been launched, including one by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, which is focused on an alleged assault that took place in New York.
"I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past.
"I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me, however, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make," Mr Swalwell wrote in his letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Together, the events leading up to the resignations of Mr Swalwell and Mr Gonzales have opened difficult and serious conversations surrounding culture in the halls of Congress and forced another #MeToo moment of sorts within this branch of US government.
Some House members say it’s time to look at and revisit their rules and culture.
Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the resignations of the two men "an important turning point", showing that abuse of power should not be accepted.
"This has now sent a signal to everybody in Congress, male or female, Republican or Democrat, who thinks it’s all right to sexually harass, sexually abuse your staffers," Leger Fernandez, chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, said in an interview with The Washington Post.
"It’s not all right, and there are enough of your colleagues who are going to vote you out. You better stop, and you better not run for reelection," she added.
Republican Representative Lauren Boebert is working on legislation to strip the two men of their pensions.
While others admit that more needs to be done to empower people to come forward, those efforts have not yet taken shape.
The three resignations have also resulted in significant political ramifications for both parties, as Republicans try to maintain control of Congress with a slim majority and push forward any proposals and legislation before the midterm elections in November.
Democrats are also campaigning on a cost of living and anti-corruption message and want to be seen respecting the outcomes of investigations.
Republicans have maintained their tight voting lead over Democrats, by picking up a seat last week during Georgia’s special election to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Marjorie Taylor Greene.
All eyes will also be on a special election on 18 August for the seat left vacant by Mr Swalwell’s resignation.
Kelly Dittmar, political scientist at Rutgers University and scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics, told RTÉ News that hyper-partisanship and the narrow divide between Democrats and Republicans put "political pressure on members" amid these bombshell accusations.
She also said this dynamic may affect whether staff members feel comfortable raising concerns in the future.
"[They] are saying I can't be sure that my party is going to stand with me, because they have these other concerns, right? So it does complicate the story?" Ms Dittmar added.
The fallout goes beyond Congress too, as Eric Swalwell’s resignation has upended the California governor’s race, in which he had previously led the field to replace Gavin Newsom.
Republicans stand a chance at leading the country’s most populous state, with former Fox News host Steve Hilton, who recently got a seal of approval from Donald Trump, the frontrunner at 17%, according to recent polling.
Fellow Republican Chad Bianco and Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer are not far behind, at 14%.
Back on Capitol Hill, the intense scrutiny has not ended. The resignation of Ms Cherfilus-McCormick has shifted focus to another representative.
Other investigations by the House Ethics Committee are also under way, including one into Republican Cory Mills, who has said he will fight accusations of sexual misconduct and violence against an ex-partner.
His Republican colleague, Nancy Mace, this week filed a resolution to expel him.
"Another one down. One more to go," she wrote on X.
As Capitol Hill deals with these serious allegations, they are not only prompting difficult conversations but testing the balance of power ahead of November’s elections.
With investigations ongoing, the response from those in authority may be crucial in further shaping public confidence in the institutions that are there to serve them, especially during a time when faith in politics has been pushed to its limits in the United States.
