Dear Commons Community,
The following was reported by Mediaite.
Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records last week in New York. Though it is a state case, Republicans nonetheless baselessly allege the prosecution was the handiwork of President Joe Biden. The convicted felon is also under indictment in three other jurisdictions – two of which are federal cases brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Since retaking the House last year, Republicans opened an ill-fated impeachment inquiry into Biden centering on his son Hunter Biden’s overseas business ventures, which the GOP claims the president benefitted from, though they have yet to provide evidence. On Wednesday, the House made criminal referrals for Hunter Biden and the president’s brother Jim Biden to the Department of Justice.
Johnson joined Wednesday’s Your World, where Cavuto asked him about the doings in the House.
“There’s sort of a pessimism that begins to develop, Mr. Speaker, that both sides are just playing this political game, a tit-for-tat game,” the host said. “What comes to mind is some of these actions that you have led post-Donald Trump convictions, where conservatives want a floor vote on a bill that would allow current or former presidents to move any case to a federal court. I know Jim Jordan has hinted at denying federal funding for state prosecutors investigating Donald Trump. Measures it probably won’t go very far. So why do them?”
“Well, because we have a responsibility here,” Johnson said. “Congress has very particular duties under the constitution. We have the responsibility of oversight and that’s what we have been engaging in.”
Johnson went on to criticize Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office prosecuted Trump in New York. The speaker alleged Bragg’s prosecution was “politicized.”
“I certainly understand where you’re coming from, Mr. Speaker, but are you weaponizing the House–”
“No!” Johnson interjected.
“–the same way you say Democrats were weaponizing the DOJ to get what they wanted?” Cavuto said, completing his question.
“No, no, there is a very clear distinction between what we are doing and what they have done in weaponizing the judicial system,” Johnson insisted.
What a hypocrite!
Tony