Capitol Hill sex scandals trigger new push to redraw the line for lawmakers

By Fox News · Fox News

Efforts to bar lawmakers from dating congressional staff are gaining momentum following multiple high-profile cases of alleged sexual misconduct on Capitol Hill. Rep. Jeff Crank, R-Colo., introduced legislation on Tuesday that would bar members of the House of Representatives from having sexual relationships with any congressional staffers unless the House Ethics Committee determines the contact does not constitute a conflict of interest. The proposal follows a number of sexual controversies facing lawmakers such as former Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., former Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., and Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. A Gallego spokesperson told Fox News Digital the lawmaker supports the House bill and hopes to see Republicans who engage in relationships with staffers held accountable. Members of Congress are already prohibited from dating their personal employees or staff serving on their committees. Crank’s proposal would expand that prohibition to all congressional staff pending approval from the ethics committee. 'DISTURBING' ALLEGATIONS AGAINST UNNAMED SENATOR UNDER REVIEW IN WAKE OF SCANDALS ROCKING CONGRESS Speaker of the House Mike Johnson , R-La., signaled that he is on board with the movement. "I think it's inappropriate, as it would be in any workplace," Johnson told Axios on Tuesday when asked for his thoughts on relationships between representatives and staffers. "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." During a press conference that same day, he endorsed establishing a new rule proposed by Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., that would ban members from having sex with any congressional staffers. SEX CRIMES COULD COST LAWMAKERS TAXPAYER-FUNDED PENSIONS UNDER HAWLEY’S NEW PROPOSAL "Even if a relationship is consensual, there is an inherent power imbalance that can undermine trust and create an appearance of impropriety,"…