Speaker Johnson Makes Stunning Confession

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) recently clarified his position on the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), asserting that he did not discuss the matter with President-elect Donald Trump, nor was he influenced by any outside pressure. In a Sunday interview on CNN’s State of the Union, Johnson responded to questions from host Jake Tapper, who questioned the timing and apparent inconsistencies in Johnson’s public statements regarding the report.

Initially, Johnson had stated that, as Speaker, he could not involve himself in the Ethics Committee’s proceedings. However, by Friday, Johnson publicly expressed his opposition to releasing the report. Tapper suggested that Johnson’s conversation with Trump in between these comments may have impacted his decision, but Johnson firmly denied any influence from the President.

“No, not at all,” Johnson said. “We’ve never discussed the Ethics report. Not once. I’ve been with President Trump several times this week, and that topic never came up.” Johnson reiterated that his position has been consistent: as Speaker, he believes it is inappropriate for him to intervene in matters of the Ethics Committee. He further explained that the committee’s jurisdiction over investigations no longer applies to Gaetz, who resigned from Congress after being nominated by Trump for the Attorney General position.

“My position is straightforward,” Johnson explained. “The House Ethics Committee has no authority over former members of Congress, and that includes Matt Gaetz. He is no longer a sitting member, and that is a key distinction. Releasing this report could set a dangerous precedent, where the Ethics Committee could investigate private citizens, which is not the role of the committee.”

Johnson also addressed concerns about transparency, explaining that the report is still in its draft form and has not been completed. “The report isn’t finished. It’s still a rough draft, and it certainly shouldn’t be released at this stage,” he added.

The Speaker pointed out that there are very few instances where Ethics Committee reports have been made public after a member resigns. In those cases, the circumstances were different, and releasing such reports is not the norm.

Johnson emphasized that while the Speaker does not have the authority to prevent the release of an Ethics Committee report, he stands by his belief that it would be inappropriate to make the report public at this time. “We can’t allow a precedent where investigations continue after someone has left office,” he said.

By clarifying his position, Speaker Johnson reinforced his commitment to upholding House procedures and protecting individual rights while ensuring the integrity of congressional processes. As Republicans continue to support Johnson’s leadership, his stance on the Gaetz report underscores the importance of maintaining tradition and adhering to established rules in the House of Representatives.