{"id":37021,"date":"2026-04-22T01:20:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T01:20:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/37021\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T01:20:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T01:20:30","slug":"mike-johnson-despicable-behavior-in-politics-is-nothing-new","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/people\/37021\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Johnson: ‘Despicable Behavior’ In Politics Is Nothing New"},"content":{"rendered":"

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson<\/a> (R-La.) said politicians behaving badly is nothing new while defending criticism aimed at the House Ethics Committee<\/a> after two congressmen resigned last week amid sexual misconduct scandals.<\/p>\n

Asked during a Tuesday press conference<\/a> if the committee is actually providing victims a viable way to report misconduct on Capitol Hill, Johnson began with a shaky explanation for why he believes Congress was doing the \u201cbest we can under difficult circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s always been untoward activity among political figures,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cGoing back to time immemorial there\u2019s always been marital infidelity, there\u2019s always been despicable behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n

The speaker argued it was far more difficult to expose abuses of power before the advent of smartphones and the 24-hour news cycle, meaning today\u2019s House Ethics Committee was busier and therefore more important than ever before.<\/p>\n

Mike Johnson: “There’s always been untoward activity among political figures. Going back to time immemorial there’s always been marital infidelity, there’s always been despicable behavior.” pic.twitter.com\/pYYjcSogeq<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Calling the 10-person bipartisan committee an \u201cessential\u201d part of maintaining the public\u2019s \u201cfaith in the institution,\u201d he then addressed critics who said extended investigations and an opaque reporting process have failed to offer a path for victims to get swift and meaningful justice.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t just take action against a member based on allegations,\u201d he said, admitting that also ensuring lawmakers have due process means \u201csometimes it takes a long time\u201d for investigations to play out.<\/p>\n

Reps. Eric Swalwell<\/a> (D-Calif.) and Tony Gonzales<\/a> (R-Texas) both resigned<\/a> last Tuesday<\/a> after admitting to inappropriate relationships with subordinates. Swalwell, who also said he was dropping his bid for California governor, denied allegations he sexually assaulted a staff member, however.<\/p>\n

Both scandals were exposed by the press, prompting people to question if Congress\u2019 current channels for addressing misconduct were actually working.<\/p>\n

In response, Johnson said he was \u201clooking at every potential avenue\u201d to make the process easier for people to come forward, telling reporters he took the issue both seriously and personally because of his daughters\u2019 jobs on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to protect women and anyone who feels like there\u2019s any inappropriate behavior whatsoever,\u201d the speaker said. \u201cIf there are ways to tighten the rules, suggestions, we\u2019re seeking that from all members, we\u2019re open to that.\u201d<\/p>\n