With the House back in session after a five-week break, Speaker Mike Johnson faces allegations of sexual misconduct within the GOP that he has previously avoided addressing. The House is scheduled to vote on Tuesday regarding the censure of Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.), which places Johnson and his Republican colleagues in a challenging position as Election Day approaches in nine weeks.
Edwards is seeking the opportunity to defend himself, ensuring that the first full day back after the summer break will focus on issues of sexual harassment and workplace conduct rather than the legislative achievements Johnson aims to highlight. The Ethics Committee determined that Edwards violated House rules regarding sexual harassment and has recommended censure following reports that he singled out two female staffers for special attention.
GOP leadership is not actively promoting the vote on censure, allowing Republicans to decide individually whether to impose this serious disciplinary action on Edwards. Edwards has circulated a 22-page letter to lawmakers arguing against the committee's findings, claiming it made an "extraordinary leap" in its conclusions regarding his conduct.
However, the letter has reportedly not been well received by his colleagues, with one House Republican stating, "Sexual harassment is sexual harassment and deserves to be disciplined accordingly." Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) expressed uncertainty about whether to support censure, noting ongoing issues among members of Congress and questioning the institution's moral standing.
Additionally, this session marks the first time the House has convened since allegations of domestic violence against Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) became public. Miller has denied these allegations, and the Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into the matter. Some Democrats have discussed potential actions against Miller, including expulsion.
Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) remains under investigation by the Ethics Committee for allegations related to domestic abuse, stolen valor, and financial misconduct, all of which he denies. Johnson has largely deferred to the Ethics Committee regarding allegations of misconduct among his party members.
On the Democratic side, the House Ethics Committee has initiated an investigation into Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) over allegations of sexual misconduct, while two lawmakers, Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), resigned this year amid similar allegations. Swalwell also faces allegations of sexual assault, which he denies.
The FBI recently conducted a raid on Swalwell's D.C. home and seized electronic devices. In the coming weeks, the Democratic and Republican women's caucuses are expected to introduce a legislative package aimed at addressing sexual misconduct in Congress, which may include reforms to reporting systems and protections against retaliation.