Mike Johnson Acknowledges House Ethics Committee Backlog Amid Rising Misconduct Allegations

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) acknowledged that the House Ethics Committee is currently overwhelmed with a significant backlog of misconduct allegations. Speaking to Axios, Johnson highlighted the challenges faced by Committee Chair Michael Guest (R-MS) and pledged to dedicate necessary resources to ensure thorough investigations. This admission comes amid a wave of high-profile cases, including the recent resignations of Representatives Tony Gonzales and Eric Swalwell following sexual misconduct allegations. Additionally, Representatives Chuck Edwards and Cory Mills are under investigation for similar claims, all of which they deny. To address systemic delays, Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) announced a bipartisan partnership aimed at reforming how Congress handles misconduct probes. Representatives Kat Cammack and Teresa Leger Fernández will lead this effort, with goals to implement changes before the upcoming midterms. Leaders agree that the Ethics Committee is under-resourced, limiting its ability to act swiftly. The proposed reforms may include moving the Office of Congressional Conduct under the House Ethics Committee to streamline processes and improve accountability within the legislative body.