WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson endorsed a proposal by GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain that would restrict lawmakers from having romantic relationships with congressional staffers following a bombshell Post report on Sen. Ruben Gallego’s affairs.
“Yeah, I can’t believe it would be acceptable in any situation,” Johnson (R-La.) told reporters Tuesday. “I think it’s inappropriate, as it would be in any workplace, and most companies have that. We should, at a bare minimum in Congress, have rules and traditions that are adhered to in corporate America.
“That’s an easy one for me.”
McClain (R-Mich.) had called for a “bright-line rule” barring sexual and romantic relationships after The Post revealed last week that Gallego (D-Ariz.), a close friend of disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), had dalliances with two House staffers for Texas Democratic lawmakers.
Gallego described the report as “gossip,” but did not deny the relationships took place.
Johnson did not say whether the House would pursue instituting a rule change vote this Congress.
At the height of the #MeToo movement in 2018, the House green-lit a rule restricting lawmakers from having relationships with their own staffers.
That rule came in the aftermath of four lawmakers resigning due to alleged misconduct.
But that rule didn’t apply to lawmakers having trysts with staffers of other members of Congress.
“Congress should have a bright-line rule that Members should not have romantic or sexual relationships with congressional staff,” McClain, the No. 4 House Republican, told The Post last week in the wake of the Gallego revelations.
“Even if a relationship is consensual, there is an inherent power imbalance that can undermine trust and create an appearance of impropriety. The goal should be protecting staff and maintaining confidence in the institution,” she added.
“My standard is the same regardless of party or personality. Members of Congress should be held to a high ethical standard whether they have an ‘R’ or a ‘D’ next to their name.”
Both sides of the aisle have been rocked by various lawmakers’ relationships with staffers. In April, disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) resigned after facing accusations of rape and sexual misconduct.
Former Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) also stepped down in response to revelations that he had an affair with a former staffer who later lit herself on fire with gasoline and pursued his former campaign political director while married.
Earlier this month, disgraced oyster farmer Graham Platner dropped out of the Maine Senate race in response to rape accusations.
During his press conference, Johnson was asked about two House GOP lawmakers who have faced accusations of abuse or bad behavior toward women: Reps. Max Miller (R-Ohio) and Cory Mills (R-Fla.)
“The key word there is allegation. We have a process here,” Johnson replied. “The House Ethics Committee works on those things. If allegations are made, they work through a process. So I’m not in the business of commenting on investigations as they’re in process.”
