Washington ( CNN ) -- House Speaker John Boehner has a liability on his hands . Rep. Trey Radel , R-Florida , has taken a leave of absence after pleading guilty to misdemeanor cocaine possession . Boehner has been praised by congressional watchdogs for having little tolerance for derelict members of Congress . But for now , Radel is retaining his seat . `` I believe that members of Congress should be held to the highest ethical standard , '' Boehner told reporters Thursday . `` The issue is between he and his family and his constituents . '' Other members of Congress caught in compromising situations heard a similar refrain from the speaker . After Rep. Chris Lee , R-New York , was caught soliciting women with shirtless selfies on Craigslist in 2011 , the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington ( CREW ) , said that Boehner `` serves as a ruthless judge and jury within his party when it comes to the extracurricular activities of members of his conference . '' While Boehner insisted that it was Lee 's decision , the New Yorker immediately resigned his seat . Boehner said , `` members should be held to the highest ethical standard . '' That 's not the only time Boehner has given this canned response . When Republican Rep. Mark Souder of Indiana admitted to having an affair with a staffer in 2010 , Boehner 's spokesman at the time said `` he will hold our members to the highest ethical standards . '' And when Republican Vito Fossella of New York was arrested for drunk driving in 2008 and then admitted to having a child in an extramarital affair , Boehner said his political future is a `` decision between he , his family and his constituents . '' Lee and Souder resigned immediately . Fossella did not seek re-election , which was just a month out . While Boehner took no credit for the members ' decision to step down , the situation behind the scenes is likely much different . Radel 's office confirmed to CNN on Thursday that the congressman has checked into a drug treatment facility . His office released this statement : `` Today , I checked myself into a facility to seek treatment and counseling . It is my hope , through this process , I will come out a better man . I will work hard to gain back the trust and support of my constituents , friends and most importantly , my family . '' While Radel retains his seat , Melanie Sloan , executive director of CREW , said she does n't `` see how he survives this . '' Boehner and the Republican Party should have little tolerance for Radel , who is the first member of Congress since at least the 1980s to be caught with drugs , Sloan said . `` It 's surprising that they have n't pushed Radel out yet , '' Sloan said . A senior House GOP aide said Boehner is coming down lightly on Radel because his is an issue of `` addiction and substance abuse . '' Sloan immediately dismissed that justification . She said cocaine use is `` pretty bad '' and that blaming drug use on alcohol addiction is `` irrelevant . '' Members of Congress are `` supposed to uphold the law , '' she said . Radel , who has been in office for 11 months , is a first-time politician . The former TV journalist-turned conservative radio talk show host represents the southwest Florida coastal cities of Fort Myers and Naples . Radel 's future comes with political risks . Radel represents a safe Republican district . It contains the fewest registered Democrats in the state and he won election with 62 % of the vote . If he stays , voters in the popular retirement community might not be forgiving . With the election a year away , there 's still plenty of time for Republicans to find a replacement . Or the party could stay out of it and wait to see whether a Republican challenges Radel in the primary , assuming he decides to run again . Who is Trey Radel ? Back in Washington , the congressman responsible for getting Republicans elected to the House , Rep. Greg Walden , R-Oregon , offered a noncommittal response about Radel 's future . `` He 's going to need to explain what happened and then make some decisions , '' Walden , chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee , said Wednesday . House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Radel 's drug use shows `` inconsistency '' within the Republican Party , which is pushing drug-testing of food stamp recipients , a position Radel voted for this summer . Ethics problems are not confined to the Republican House . Democrats Eric Massa of New York quickly left office after he was accused of sexual harassment , as did Anthony Weiner for posting lewd pictures of himself on Twitter . There appears to be a little more tolerance in the Senate . Republican Mike Crapo of Idaho still holds his seat after pleading guilty to drunk driving and Sen. David Vitter , R-Louisiana , remains in office after his involvement with a prostitute . Sen. John Ensign , R-Nevada , resigned amid an ethics investigation that involved an extramarital affair . Sen. Larry Craig , R-Idaho , also resigned after alleging soliciting a police officer for sex in an airport bathroom . CNN 's Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report .
Boehner on Rep. Radel : `` The issue is between he and his family and his constituents '' Boehner has been praised by congressional watchdogs for not tolerating misconduct . Radel is seeking treatment for substance abuse but retains his office .