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.