Speaker Johnson supports expanding ban on lawmakers having sexual relations with staffers

Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters during a news conference on Tuesday that he would support a ban on lawmakers having sexual relationships with any congressional aides. This proposed ban would apply even to aides who aren't subordinates in a personal office or on a committee. 

Johnson was asked if he is supportive of comments House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain of Michigan made proposing such a ban. 

"Yeah," Johnson replied, Politico reported. 

McClain hasn't established the path such a rule would take, but it would require a revision to the House Code of Official Conduct. An endorsement from two top members of the House suggests there could be action on the proposal. 

In 2018, at the height of the #MeToo movement, the House adopted a formal ban on members having sexual relationships with their subordinates in personal offices or on the committees on which the lawmakers serve. The rule carved out an exception for those who are married to staffers. 

McClain's proposal to expand the ban to all staffers follows recent allegations that Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., had relationships with staffers who were not under his supervision.