Internet slams Mike Johnson as he floats defunding special counsel’s office amid Jack Smith’s Trump probe
WASHINGTON, DC: A day after pledging to "rein in" Special Counsel Jack Smith's probe of former President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson raised the prospect of cutting off funds to the US Office of Special Counsel on Wednesday, May 15, according to Fox News.
Johnson answered Fox News Digital's question during his weekly press conference, "There's a lot of different ideas. People are alarmed that the special counsel, in that capacity, has been abused in recent years," when asked, "How does Congress correct that error and ensure that a special counsel is not abusing their authority? You know, we have oversight, of course, we also have the power of the purse."
Mike Johnson raises prospect of cutting off funds to Office of Special Counsel
At the Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday, May 14, Johnson became the highest-ranking member of Congress to personally support Trump. The former president is being tried on charges of falsifying business records to conceal payments of hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
Although Smith's investigations into Trump's involvement in the 2020 race and his handling of confidential documents are unconnected to that trial, Johnson criticized those inquiries in remarks he made to reporters following his court appearance.
He said, "I'm working with Chairman [Jim] Jordan of the House Judiciary Committee and Chairman [James] Comer of our Oversight Committee on measures to rein in the abuses of Special Counsel Jack Smith."
When Fox News Digital asked Johnson on Wednesday what that seemed like, he stated, "There's a lot of different ideas being discussed now on what that would look like."
He added, "What most people don't realize is that is not funded in the regular appropriations process. It's a separate, distinct account, and it's effectively…funded autopilot."
Moreover, House Republicans, he claimed, will be 'actively discussing' ways to hold Smith responsible 'even today'.
Internet shreds Johnson as he raises prospect of cutting off funds to Office of Special Counsel
People on the internet slammed Mike Johnson as he raised the prospect of cutting off funds to the US Office of Special Counsel after pledging to "rein in" Jack Smith's probe of Donald Trump.
A user posted on X, "@SpeakerJohnson is disingenuous and not an honorable man. He doesn’t do what he says he is going to do," while one added, "Johnson won’t do anything that actually helps Republicans. All lies."
@SpeakerJohnson is disingenuous and not an honorable man. He doesn’t do what he says he is going to do.
— SheilaG2024 (@SheilaG2024) May 16, 2024
Johnson won’t do anything that actually helps Republicans. All lies.
— 🇺🇸 KLC 🇺🇸 (@klc4_trump) May 16, 2024
A person wrote, "All talk, after funding everything democrats wanted with whipped cream, nuts, and cherry on top. Not holding my breath," whereas one commented, "I’m not holding out any hope."
All talk, after funding everything democrats wanted with whipped cream, nuts, and cherry on top. Not holding my breath.
— Notoriousdad (@notorious_dad60) May 15, 2024
A person stated, "Sure thing @SpeakerJohnson words mean nothing," while one wrote, "Stop floating and do it."
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.