House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he will not use congressional funding power to defund special counsel Jack Smith’s effort against Donald Trump.
“That’s not something you wave a wand and just eliminate the special counsel as a provision. There is a necessity for a function like that, because sometimes the Department of Justice — which is an executive branch agency — can’t necessarily, without a conflict of interest, investigate or prosecute the president who’s their boss, or the president’s family,” Johnson told POLITICO.
“So are you prepared to write language eliminating Smith’s job into appropriations bills?” the outlet asked.
“No,” he replied.
Johnson’s comments follow the majority of Republicans and Democrats banding together to block Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) effort to oust him from the speakership.
House Overwhelmingly Backs Mike Johnson In Effort To Remove Speaker, Donald Trump Issues Statement
"I triggered my Motion to Vacate yesterday because Mike Johnson refused to commit to defunding Special Council Jack Smith. Now, he’s not just saying he won’t defund it, he’s promising to PROTECT it. If the Democrats saving Mike Johnson’s Speakership didn’t convince you he’s in fact their Speaker of the House, this should!" Greene said Thursday.
I triggered my Motion to Vacate yesterday because Mike Johnson refused to commit to defunding Special Council Jack Smith.
Now, he’s not just saying he won’t defund it, he’s promising to PROTECT it.
If the Democrats saving Mike Johnson’s Speakership didn’t convince you he’s in…
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) May 9, 2024
Mike Johnson when asked if he will stop the witch hunt that aims to throw President Trump in jail FOR LIFE! pic.twitter.com/MyosP1FAMj
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) May 9, 2024
Breitbart reports:
Greene and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who partnered to pull the trigger Wednesday night forcing a vote to eject Johnson after weeks pressuring him to end his coalition government with Democrats, had been pressuring Johnson to put up a fight against Democrats with spending bills and other must-pass legislation, such as the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) reauthorization, currently being considered.
Wednesday afternoon, Johnson, who had already surrendered leverage on the FAA bill to the Senate, unexpectedly scheduled a vote on a one-week FAA extension that would give Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) more time to finalize a package before the Friday night deadline. Johnson then canceled House votes for the remainder of the week, giving his members a long weekend while Schumer and his Senate continued preparations to once again jam the House.
Greene and Massie forced a motion to vacate vote hours later to let voters know where their representatives stood. The tally was revealing.
With a small but firm opposition to Johnson inside his own party, his speakership would be in jeopardy if Democrats revoked their support.
Trump earlier in the week signaled his support for defunding Smith. He signed a printout of a Greene statement about her defund strategy, writing “Great!” in his iconic magic marker.
I’m fighting for President Trump, our Republican majority, and every person who believes in our America First agenda.
Proud to have the support of President Trump, and he has mine! pic.twitter.com/yOJdRyB7pe
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) May 8, 2024
In a 359-43 vote, the chamber tabled a motion to vacate the chair.
196 Republicans and 163 Democrats voted to block the effort to oust Johnson from the speakership.
11 Republicans and 32 Democrats voted to remove Johnson.