House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday he supports banning members of Congress from having romantic or sexual relationships with any Capitol Hill staff, backing a broader prohibition than current House rules allow.
Asked at a press conference whether he would support expanding the ban to cover all congressional aides, Johnson replied “Yeah.” He said relationships between lawmakers and staff would be inappropriate in any workplace and that Congress should adopt standards similar to corporate America.
“I think it’s inappropriate, as it would be in any workplace. We should, at a bare minimum in Congress, have, you know, rules and traditions that are adhered to in corporate America, so that’s an easy one for me.”
Mike Johnson, House Speaker, Axios
Johnson’s endorsement adds momentum to a push by House Republican leadership to tighten workplace conduct rules. House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), the highest-ranking woman in GOP leadership, called for the broader ban over the weekend following reporting that Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) had relationships with two House aides to other Democrats who did not report to him — which did not violate existing House rules.
The House adopted its current prohibition on sexual relationships between lawmakers and staff in 2018, following the “Me Too” movement. That rule bans members from engaging in sexual relationships with staff members under their direct supervision or on committees where they serve, but allows relationships with staff in other offices or committees. The rule includes an exception for lawmakers already married to staffers.
Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), chair of the Republican Women’s Caucus who leads a bipartisan House task force on sexual misconduct, has emphasized the power imbalance inherent in any lawmaker-staffer relationship. “If you’re a member, you really should not be doing that because you have extraordinary power and authority over that individual’s career, even if they are not in your office,” Cammack told Axios. “There is a massive power dynamic imbalance.”
The expansion of the prohibition follows a wave of misconduct allegations that have roiled Congress this year. Former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) and former Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) both resigned earlier this year amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Swalwell has denied wrongdoing, while Gonzales admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. Both men faced imminent expulsion votes before stepping down.
Cammack’s bipartisan task force is working on a broader package of recommendations to reform how Congress addresses sexual misconduct. According to Axios, the task force is “70% of the way there” on its proposals, though lawmakers have differing opinions on whether to ban relationships with staff outside a member’s office.
The path forward for any new rule would require a revision to the House Code of Official Conduct. Endorsement from both the Speaker and the House Republican Conference Chair suggests there could be momentum for action, though the staff director for the House Ethics Committee did not respond to a request for comment on the timeline or process.
Sources
- The Hill — Johnson’s statements at press conference and background on 2018 rule and recent misconduct cases
- Axios — Johnson’s direct quotes on workplace standards, Cammack’s commentary on power imbalance, task force progress
- Politico — Johnson’s support for broader ban, context on recent resignations and Gallego reporting
