Johnson's unavoidable, uncomfortable September problem

With the House back in session after a five-week break, Speaker Mike Johnson can no longer avoid an issue he's skirted all summer: allegations of sexual misconduct in the GOP.

Why it matters: The House will vote Tuesday on censuring Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.), putting Johnson and his Republican colleagues in an uncomfortable — and unavoidable — position nine weeks from Election Day.

• Edwards is demanding an opportunity to defend himself, ensuring that the House's first full day back after its summer break will be about sexual harassment and a hostile work environment — not the legislative accomplishments Johnson wants his members to tout.
• Since Axios' reporting that Edwards singled out two female staffers in their 20s for special attention, Johnson has deferred to the Ethics Committee. But this month, the committee determined that Edwards violated House rules on sexual harassment and recommended his censure.

Between the lines: GOP leadership is not whipping the Edwards vote, leaving Republicans to decide for themselves whether to impose one of the chamber's most serious punishments on their colleague.

Driving the news: Edwards mounted a last-ditch campaign to save himself from censure, circulating a 22-page letter to lawmakers arguing that the committee made an "extraordinary leap" in determining that his conduct constituted sexual harassment.

• But the letter was not well received among his colleagues, two sources told Axios.
• "Sexual harassment is sexual harassment and deserves to be disciplined accordingly," one House Republican told Axios. "While most of us are actually fighting for the American people, he was busy creeping on his staff."
• Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) told Axios he's still on the fence on whether to censure Edwards. "We've got several members that are messing around, obviously, and people know it. And I just don't see Congress being the moral barometer for anything really right now."
• Edwards abandoned his reelection campaign this month but has resisted calls to resign.

Zoom out: It will also be the first time the House has been in session since allegations of domestic violence against Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) exploded into public view. Miller has denied the allegations.

• The Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Miller this month, and some Democrats discussed forcing the House to take action against him, including an expulsion push.

Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) lost his primary this month but remains under an active Ethics Committee investigation over allegations that center on domestic abuse, stolen valor and financial misconduct, all of which he denies.

• Johnson has largely deferred to the Ethics Committee when confronted with allegations of misconduct by members of his conference. Asked Monday whether he supports Miller's reelection campaign, Johnson said yes.

The other side: Democrats also will confront fresh ethical scrutiny within their ranks.

• The House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) this month over allegations of sexual misconduct. Democrats have largely stayed quiet on the investigation.
• Two lawmakers — Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) — resigned this year amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
• Swalwell also faces allegations of sexual assault, which he denies. Gonzales admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.

The FBI this month raided Swalwell's D.C. home and stopped him at the airport and seized his electronic devices.

What's next: The Democratic and Republican women's caucuses are expected to unveil their legislative package in the next couple of weeks to tackle sexual misconduct on Capitol Hill.

• Potential reforms under discussion include changes to reporting systems, retaliation protections, increases in education and training resources, and a ban on lawmaker-staff relations.