U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) attempted to assert his influence over the House Ethics Committee, but his move may have backfired, according to a former Republican staffer. Brendan Buck, who previously served as a key adviser to former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), weighed in on the situation during an appearance on MSNBC Sunday. Buck, who has also worked as press secretary to former Speaker John A. Boehner, offered his perspective on the developments surrounding the release of the ethics report regarding former GOP lawmaker Matt Gaetz.
Buck explained that the House Ethics Committee, which is known for its bipartisan structure and divided membership, might have been reluctant to heed Speaker Johnson’s public suggestion that the report should not be released. “When Mike Johnson came out and said I don’t think they should release that report, I wondered if that was a mistake,” Buck commented. He emphasized that the committee, being one of the few truly independent bodies in Congress, operates with a sense of autonomy and is not typically swayed by direct political pressure from the Speaker.
Buck suggested that some members of the Ethics Committee may have been offended by Johnson’s public intervention and that this could have led to the committee’s decision to release the report. “The House Ethics Committee is one of the few sort of independent bipartisan panels, evenly divided,” he explained. “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 noted that it is highly unusual for a Speaker to publicly comment on the actions of the committee, and this could have led to the committee members feeling compelled to act independently, perhaps out of a desire to maintain their credibility and impartiality.
According to Buck, Johnson’s attempt to exert influence over the committee might have inadvertently undermined his own position. “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, that may have backfired,” Buck said. The release of the ethics report, which could potentially damage Gaetz’s reputation, seemed to be a consequence of Johnson’s interference. This incident underscores the delicate balance of power within the House, where even seasoned leaders like Johnson can face setbacks when overstepping traditional boundaries of influence.
