…Johnson “has named Reps #ScottPerry PA) & #RonnyJackson (TX) to the House Intelligence Cmte. The #Intel Cmte oversees the entire intelligence community & gets some of the most sensitive intelligence about the #US & its allies.”
#ScottPerry, who coordinated w/ #Trump allies surrounding the #Jan6th attack on the US Capitol, was involved in his own scandal. “Federal judge orders texts, emails on Rep Scott Perry’s phone be turned over to prosecutors in 2020 election probe,” read a CBS headline from 2023. Perry & Jackson’s past scandals led commentators & journalists to react w/both surprise & scorn at #MikeJohnson’s decision to place them on the #Intelligence Cmte.
…Several #HouseRepublicans …said their backing of #Trump is based on how their constituents reacted. Some, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that they issued stmnts in #fear of how his base would react if they stayed quiet. Trump has animated his followers by painting himself as a martyr & repeatedly suggesting that if the #Biden admin & judicial sys were not coming after him, they would go after them. #Republicans say that message has been effective.
It was unclear how the #House could seek to cut spending for states through the appropriations process, which funds the federal govt. But it has become a talking point for #FarRightlawmakers that was on display during a House #Judiciary Cmte hearing Tues.
"The embattled Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is vowing to use the arsenal of tools at his disposal, including defunding, to target the U.S. Dept. of Justice after ex-president Donald Trump was convicted in a New York State prosecution on 34 felony charges last week."
“'I think that the justices on the court — I know many of them personally — I think they’re deeply concerned about [Trump’s conviction], as we are. So I think they’ll set this straight, but it’s going to take awhile.'
Johnson went on to say 'this will be overturned, guys, there’s no question about it. It’s just going to take some time to do it.'”
Translation: we Republicans own the Supreme Court….
@DemocracyMattersALot
From Xitter,
Mark Joseph Stern @mjs_DC
Fascinating to hear the GOP Speaker of the House admit to having private conversations with multiple justices who expressed concern to him about Trump’s conviction. I’m sure those justices will recuse from any eventual appeal to avoid sitting on a case they’ve pre-judged.
@DemocracyMattersALot Isn't it illegal for the Speaker of the House to be conspiring with members of the Supreme Court on this matter? Something about the separation of powers?