Frustrated with congressional stonewalling, an ethics watchdog group is going public with its demand that the list of lawmakers tied to $17 million in tax dollars used to pay off sexual harassment claims be released.

“The public deserves to know,” said the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, or FACT.

Congress’ Office of Compliance has paid out $17 million in harassment cases and kept the names of members involved secret. Two current female members said that there are two sitting lawmakers involved.

Congress is exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, but FACT said the need for transparency and Congress’ own credibility is on the line.

“Sadly, it has just come to light that for years the government spent millions in taxpayer dollars to try and quietly make sexual misconduct by lawmakers go away. That is an egregious affront to all the victims, as well as taxpayers,” said Kendra Arnold, executive director of FACT.

She added, “We don’t need speeches and public posturing—we need the internal policy to change and immediate transparency. Congressional leaders need to name names and each day that goes by without action is another day more innocent people are put at risk of becoming victims of predatory behavior in the workplace.”

Her demand came exactly as Minnesota Sen. Al Franken held a press conference to claim had no knowledge of the harassment he has been accused of. He apologized anyway.

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com