Mike Johnson Would Prefer Not To
The House speaker doesn’t want to get involved in the Max Miller scandal—or anything else that might seem like part of his basic duties as a leader.
This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that offers insights into the most pressing stories of the day, introduces fresh ideas, and suggests the finest in culture. This morning, House Speaker Mike Johnson finally addressed the controversy surrounding Representative Max Miller of Ohio. However, Johnson's response was minimal.
"I haven't spoken to Max about this in the last few days," he told Politico, adding, "Of course, I will." Miller, a fellow Republican, claimed to be taking the allegations seriously despite lack of evidence and called for a House Ethics Committee investigation. The investigation request was reportedly a delaying tactic. Johnson further stated, "There's all sorts of domestic events going on with 435 members of Congress all the time.
It's not my business to get engaged in it." This raises questions about the extent of Johnson's perceived responsibilities. As a social conservative and champion of morality, Johnson's stance seems questionable. Miller has been accused of domestic abuse against his ex-wife and toddler daughter and of past illegal drug use, which Miller now denies.
For his Republican caucus, the Miller situation could serve as a significant distraction from any midterm messaging efforts in the remaining 100 days before elections. Additionally, the scandal could impact Republican prospects in the November elections; Miller suggested on CNN that a "tough" race is likely if he decides to run.
If Miller resigns by Monday afternoon, Republicans in Ohio could replace him on the ballot; however, the speed of the Ethics Committee process remains uncertain. If Johnson believes his role doesn't include safeguarding the House's moral reputation, the stability of the House majority, or the Republican Party's future, his motives remain unclear.
Passing legislation would seem like an obvious task, but the 119th Congress has been among the least productive in history, with only 104 laws enacted since January 2025, the lowest number since at least 1947. Moreover, legislative power over budgets has been ceded to the White House, and the longest federal government shutdown in history occurred due to legislative failure to fund the government for 43 days.
While the Senate's narrow GOP edge may contribute to legislative gridlock, senators are also occupied with other official duties like confirming presidential appointments, which the House does not have. Another fundamental congressional duty, oversight of the executive branch, has seen little action from the House. In May, Johnson called a recess instead of voting on a resolution condemning Trump's war in Iran when it became clear that the nonbinding measure would pass.
Since then, the House has passed a similar resolution. Johnson's deference to Trump has reportedly led the president to joke privately that he has "two jobs: being president and being speaker." Despite this close relationship, Johnson often claims ignorance about controversial statements or actions by Trump and his administration.
In October, he dodged a question about cuts to special education funding, saying, "I've been so busy on this; I've not had a chance to dig into the details." By choosing to remain detached from the Miller scandal, Johnson allows Miller to claim support from House leadership. Johnson's reluctance to engage in this messy, controversial situation is understandable but also reflects the burdens that fall on leaders.
By declining to take responsibility, Johnson may avoid dealing with the speaker's duties when the new Congress begins next January.
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