Johnson backs ban on lawmakers having relations with Capitol staff

Mike Johnson said Tuesday he would support a House rule barring lawmakers from having relations with any Capitol Hill staffer, widening a prohibition that already covers members’ own employees. The Louisiana Republican, speaking at a press conference in Washington, answered “Yeah” when asked if he backed the broader ban and added, “I can’t believe it would be acceptable in any situation.”

The House approved a resolution in 2018 prohibiting relationships between lawmakers and employees. House ethics materials give the Committee on Ethics jurisdiction over the House Code of Official Conduct. They call for zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, harassment or discrimination in Congress, and they include guidance on employment considerations for spouses of members and staff.

Johnson’s position aligned with a proposal associated with House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain. The Ethics Committee’s historical chart of publicly disclosed investigative matters lists Tony Gonzales in 2026 for a sexual relationship with a staffer and Eric Swalwell in 2026 for sexual misconduct including with a staffer. It lists Cory Mills in 2025 for sexual misconduct and/or dating violence, Matt Gaetz in 2024 for sexual misconduct with a minor and solicitation of prostitution, and George Santos in 2023 for sexual harassment of a staffer.

The proposal would extend the ban from a member’s own office to any staffer working on Capitol Hill. Members control assignments, pay and career prospects.