House Speaker Mike Johnson said he supports amending House rules to prohibit members from having sexual relationships with any Capitol Hill staffers, arguing such conduct is inappropriate in any workplace. The call for a broader ban gained momentum after a report alleging Sen. Ruben Gallego had relationships with two former House staffers. The Senate Ethics Committee dismissed a complaint against Gallego on June 26, while the House Ethics Committee has urged victims to come forward. Republican leaders including Lisa McClain and Kat Cammack are pushing for clearer rules and stronger accountability.
Speaker Mike Johnson Backs Ban On Lawmaker Sexual Relationships With Any Capitol Hill Staffer
Eric Lee/Reuters - PHOTO: House Speaker Mike Johnson delivers remarks with Britain's Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle as they meet at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, July 21, 2026.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday he supports changing House rules to bar members of Congress from engaging in sexual relationships with any staffer who works on Capitol Hill.
"I can't believe it would be acceptable in any situation," Johnson said at the weekly Republican leadership news conference. "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, you know, rules and traditions that are adhered to in corporate America. So that's an easy one for me."
What The Proposal Would Do
Current House rules prohibit a lawmaker from having a romantic relationship with an employee who works under their direct supervision. Johnson's proposal would expand that prohibition to cover sexual relationships with any Capitol Hill staffer, including those employed by other offices.
Context And Reaction
The push for broader rules follows calls from GOP leaders after a New York Post report alleging that Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) had romantic relationships with two staffers outside his House office while serving in the chamber from 2015 to 2025. When asked about the report, Gallego said he would not "engage in gossip."
GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) urged a comprehensive ban in a post on X, arguing that even consensual relationships can involve an inherent power imbalance that undermines trust and creates the appearance of impropriety.
"The goal should be protecting staff and maintaining confidence in the institution," she wrote.
The Senate Ethics Committee recently dismissed a complaint filed by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) against Gallego. In a June 26 letter to Gallego, the committee wrote that it did not find evidence his actions violated federal law, Senate rules, or related standards of conduct.
The House Ethics Committee has urged anyone who has experienced sexual misconduct on Capitol Hill to contact the panel as it reviews recent allegations and resignations.
Broader Concerns And Ongoing Reforms
Lawmakers from both parties have faced misconduct accusations in recent years, prompting bipartisan calls for clearer rules and better enforcement. Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), chair of the Republican Women's Caucus, said she is leading a bipartisan effort to reform how Congress handles allegations of sexual misconduct.
"Accountability cannot begin and end with resignations," Cammack wrote on X. "Close the resignation loopholes. No more secret findings. No more special treatment. Hold every offender accountable."
Advocates for reform say expanding the ban would remove ambiguity, help protect staff from coercion or perceived favoritism, and strengthen public confidence in congressional oversight and workplace standards.
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