Speaker Mike Johnson Criticized for Effort to Sway Matt Gaetz Ethics Report

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) faced backlash after attempting to influence the release of an ethics report on former GOP lawmaker Matt Gaetz, according to Brendan Buck, a former Republican staffer and advisor to ex-Speakers Paul Ryan and John Boehner. Buck, appearing on MSNBC Sunday, suggested that Johnson’s actions might have backfired, undermining his authority and creating unintended consequences.

The ethics report, which investigated allegations against Gaetz, was unexpectedly released despite the former lawmaker’s claim that he would not seek reelection. Buck speculated that the decision to release the report was influenced by Johnson’s public stance on the matter.

“When Mike Johnson came out and said, ‘I don’t think they should release that report,’ I wondered if that was a mistake,” Buck explained. “The House Ethics Committee is one of the few sort of independent bipartisan panels, evenly divided. I imagine there are some members of that committee who said, ‘We can’t look like we’re being told what to do.

We don’t serve the speaker.’” Buck emphasized that Johnson’s attempt to sway the committee was highly unorthodox and may have prompted a backlash from its members. “If the speaker was trying to push them around, it was very unusual for the speaker to tell the ethics committee publicly what he thinks they could do,” Buck added. “That may have backfired.”

The ethics report’s release has drawn renewed attention to Gaetz’s controversial tenure in Congress and raised questions about Johnson’s leadership strategy. By publicly stating his opposition to the report’s release, Johnson may have inadvertently fueled the committee’s resolve to maintain its independence, ultimately leading to the decision to publish its findings.

Buck’s comments suggest a broader challenge for Johnson as he navigates the complex dynamics of House leadership. While attempting to assert control over the ethics process, Johnson’s actions may have alienated members of the bipartisan committee, highlighting the limits of his authority.

The controversy also underscores the delicate balance Johnson must strike as he works to unify a divided Republican Party while maintaining credibility in the face of high-stakes decisions. For now, it seems that Johnson’s effort to “flex his political muscle” has instead sparked criticism and raised doubts about his approach to leadership.