Breitbart

Johnson Vows to Protect Jack Smith Hours After Democrats Save His Speakership

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced he would not use Congress’s power of the purse to defund special counsel Jack Smith’s office, which is prosecuting Donald Trump. Johnson emphasized the necessity of a function like the special counsel to avoid conflicts of interest in the Department of Justice when investigating the president or the president’s family. He stated that he would not write language into appropriations bills to eliminate Smith’s role. This decision came after 163 Democrats voted to save his speakership, despite criticism from some Republicans like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rep. Thomas Massie, who have pressured Johnson to fight against Democrats using must-pass legislation. Greene and Massie forced a motion to vacate vote hours later to expose where representatives stood, revealing a small but firm opposition within Johnson's own party. Trump's stance on defunding Smith's office differs from Johnson's approach, though he did suggest the time may come for ousting Johnson.