\u201cI haven’t spoken to Max about this in the last few days. Of course, I will,\u201d Johnson said in an interview for Blue Light News\u2019s \u201cThe Conversation\u201d with Dasha Burns. \u201cThere’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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pressed on the severity of the claims<\/a> against Miller \u2014 which include holding a gun to the head of his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, and breaking the collarbone of his daughter \u2014 Johnson called the allegations \u201cserious\u201d but said he would let an Ethics Committee investigation run its course. Miller denies any wrongdoing and called the claims \u201cpolitically motivated\u201d Tuesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Max is taking them seriously. I think our colleagues are,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cBut, again, we have to allow this process to play out. It’s just begun.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Ethics panel announced Tuesday it would investigate the domestic abuse claims<\/a> as well as allegations of illegal drug use by Miller, who had requested the probe earlier in the day in a bid to clear his name.<\/p>\n

Hours later, in a CNN interview<\/a>, Miller said, \u201cSpeaker Mike Johnson, everyone else \u2014 they’re standing behind me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked about his name being invoked, Johnson said, \u201cI think what Max is suggesting there is that I’ve been intellectually consistent. \u2026 We don’t take disciplinary action against members for allegations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s, in his own words, a nasty divorce proceeding, and it’s gotten ugly and it’s gotten public,\u201d he added. \u201cBut he’s saying the same things privately to members that he is publicly, that he denies all this. \u2026 There’s a process. The House Ethics Committee does that. We always withhold judgment on this, whether it’s Republicans or Democrats.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnson\u2019s comments came amid a campaign swing in Phoenix, where he is raising money for a pair of key races and touting legislative victories just months before the midterms. But he was also forced to address controversies plaguing Republican members that have snowballed as he and other leaders have largely stayed silent.<\/p>\n

Johnson was more candid about the sexual harassment charges faced by Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina, who is facing a censure recommendation<\/a> from the Ethics Committee. The panel concluded in a report issued Monday that he engaged in \u201cpersistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers,\u201d lavishing them with gifts and inundating them with unwanted texts, calls and invitations.<\/p>\n

Edwards cooperated with the probe and did not challenge the factual findings, but his lawyers argued they did not rise to the level of censure.<\/p>\n

In the interview, Johnson said those, too, are \u201cserious allegations\u201d and that he spoke with Edwards briefly Tuesday. He said he plans to talk to Edwards again soon about his reelection plans.<\/p>\n

Like Miller, Edwards is facing a vigorous and well-financed Democratic challenger in a district that usually trends Republican but is unusually competitive this year due to the national political environment and the incumbents\u2019 ethical challenges.<\/p>\n

Asked if Edwards should drop his reelection bid, Johnson said, \u201cHe’s got to make a big decision, and I hope he does the right thing for him and his family.\u201d As for Miller\u2019s seat, he said, \u201cI’m confident we’ll hold that district.\u201d<\/p>\n