Transcript: Home Speaker Mike Johnson on “Face the Nation,” Jan. 7, 2024

The next is a transcript of an interview with Home Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, that aired on Jan. 7, 2024. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, thanks for inviting us down right here to the border. I do know you’ve got been assembly with officers, happening excursions. And I ponder the way it’s modified what you concentrate on what is going on on, and the way you stability the nationwide safety considerations in opposition to among the very actual humanitarian points?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yeah, we’ve got a humanitarian disaster right here. And, after all, large nationwide safety considerations. Earlier than I grew to become speaker of the home, I served on the Home Judiciary Committee, which has partial jurisdiction over the immigration disaster. So I have been dialed in on this for fairly some time and knew what was occurring right here. I might been to the border earlier than. However that is the biggest congressional delegation, we predict, that is ever been to the border collectively. We had 64 Home Republicans right here at present, as you famous, and met with native officers and native stakeholders, from sheriffs, to landowners, to the federal Border Patrol brokers who’re doing heroic work right here. And what we noticed is, in- in some methods, troublesome to explain. Simply the magnitude of the chaos right here, of the variety of lives which can be adversely affected, the- you understand, minor kids which can be being trafficked into the nation. And, after all, everyone knows the fentanyl overdoses and poisoning that has been a scourge on the nation. The cartels are estimated to be making right here simply within the Del Rio sector, about $32 million every week in trafficking people.

(CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: We heard that. Simply in smuggling individuals.

(END CROSSTALK)

SPEAKER JOHNSON: So that you’re speaking about added up, you understand, it is like greater than $1.5 billion {dollars} a yr. I imply, these are transnational, harmful legal organizations. And the maddening factor about it’s that the White Home is permitting all this. These are coverage decisions that- that created this chaos. And it’s thus coverage decisions that would change it. And that is what we’re trying–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Which coverage decisions do you suppose must be modified?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Properly, it is really fairly easy. I imply, the president has the existent authority beneath federal legislation to- to stem the move right here. I imply, when you instituted- reinstituted the Stay in Mexico coverage, for instance, it was estimated by the people who find themselves in cost right here that that might stem the move by possibly 70%. I imply, that is a easy measure, an government order that the White Home may undertake. On his first day in workplace, President Biden got here in and issued government orders that started this chaos. Stay in Mexico is- is considered one of them. The- the catch and launch program has created a part of this drawback. We may finish catch and launch. That is what President Trump did to assist stem the move.

MARGARET BRENNAN: However you want the logistical and monetary help to have the ability to do this. You want the judges, you want to have the ability to course of individuals. We talked to federal brokers about simply that problem. 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Yeah, properly, we–

MARGARET BRENNAN: And that– Congress has the purse strings, to offer them the cash to try this.

SPEAKER JOHNSON:  Properly, that is true, however I am going to quote to you, the deputy chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, who had dinner with us final evening, and his- in his personal phrases, he stated, it’s as if we’re attempting to manage an open fireplace hydrant, he stated, I do not want extra buckets, I would like for the- I would like the move to be turned off. And the best way you do that’s with coverage modifications. Merely, this may very well be achieved. And everybody right here is aware of it, all of the officers, federal, state and native, have affirmed that, and we all know it by expertise, as a result of it occurred within the earlier administration. So we’re just- we’re simply asking the White Home to use widespread sense. And so they appear to be utterly bored with doing so.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So we toured the Firefly facility, that tented facility, you all went on the identical tour. And what we had been instructed is there- there’s a want for penalties, Border Patrol officers say, however in addition they want the cash, they want the assets to have the ability to course of, they stated they did not have sufficient males, they did not have sufficient logistical help to even deport individuals once they wished to try this. So are you able to look them within the eye if you discuss to them and say, I am gonna get you the cash that you simply want, as a result of that’s a part of the problem? 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: We did look them within the eye. Many of those, I imply, from the highest officers to the rank and file, and so they all say the identical factor. Please cease the move. So if we ship extra money to course of extra illegals and disperse them all through the nation, as we have achieved, keep in mind, the quantity is over 7 million unlawful encounters on the border simply since President Biden took workplace, nearly 2 million recognized gotaways, we don’t know what number of utterly evaded surveillance and- and seize, and- and over 300 individuals on the terrorist watch listing that are– which were apprehended. So we do not know what number of of them even have come into the nation and probably arrange terrorist cells–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Or are- whether or not they’re really terrorists. It- it is simply unknown. 

SPEAKER JOHNSON:  Properly, it- it takes fairly a bit to get your self on the terrorist watch listing. These are harmful individuals. And we all know and so they’ve instructed us, native officers instructed us, that from nations like Venezuela and different nations around the globe, they’re emptying their prisons. They are not sending of their mannequin residents right here. The- the cartels are trafficking individuals right here who- the gotaways, they do not go to ports of entry, as a result of they know that they is likely to be deterred, as a result of they’ve legal previous, etcetera. So these issues are compounding day-after-day. And it- we had extra individuals come throughout that border illegally in December than in any month in historical past, over 302,000 individuals, we’ve got to cease the insanity.

MARGARET BRENNAN: However- however simply to be clear. Are you saying you would not authorize new funding to assist out these brokers with what they are saying they want, except it’s matched with these greater coverage modifications? 

SPEAKER JOHNSON:  Proper. The- I feel anybody with widespread sense would let you know that you simply can not throw extra money at a foul system. We do not need to empower extra of this. The- the White Home, the administration, Secretary Mayorkas, have put a welcome mat out. So we all know that we’ve got individuals coming from practically 170 nations around the globe and once more, many harmful individuals.

MARGARET BRENNAN: However you could not even undergo the deportations that you simply wish to see occur with out the funding to truly have the method operate. I imply, ICE has the capability to carry 40,000 beds. That is not practically matching what you are describing.

SPEAKER JOHNSON: In a triage scenario, you must cease the move first earlier than you possibly can start with the- with the surgical procedure and we- we’re hemorrhaging right here. And everybody is aware of it. Do you know that on this facility right here at Del Rio, they estimate that 60 to 70% of the individuals who have come throughout are single grownup males. We noticed them at present. It is- it is a mixture of them and younger ladies who’re being trafficked for intercourse. We all know that. After which these minors that the cartels are making large quantities of cash on. I- I imply, that is simply anybody with a conscience who got here all the way down to see this might demand that it cease. And our constituents are telling us that. And–

MARGARET BRENNAN: So these- however these are very, very actual and instant points, what you are describing, it’s a disaster. So do not you want the assistance of the Homeland Safety Secretary, as an alternative of attempting to question him?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: We have been asking Alexand- Secretary Mayorkas since he took workplace, to implement the legislation, to do his job, and he is achieved precisely the alternative. He is testified un- untruthfully earlier than Congress, repeatedly-

(CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: However- However why focus the Congressional assets on going forward with an impeachment once they may very well be coping with the precise points right here on the bottom? 

(END CROSSTALK)

SPEAKER JOHNSON:  Our- our Homeland Safety Committee has achieved its job. They’ve a constitutional accountability, a obligation, to analyze what is occurring with the company that they’ve oversight for. They’ve achieved that for a yr, very methodically, fastidiously, intimately. And so they’ve documented all that. I consider Secretary Mayorkas is an abject failure, but it surely’s not due to incompetence. I consider he has achieved this deliberately. I feel these are intentional coverage selections that he is made. And I feel there should be accountability for that. And I- I can let you know, the overwhelming majority of Individuals agree with us on that time. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: However that does not sound very hopeful given that he’s the principle White Home level individual speaking to Congress proper now concerning the invoice that the Senate negotiators try to place collectively on a bipartisan basis– 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Secretary Mayorkas–

MARGARET BRENNAN: — You are going to impeach the man that you must negotiate with–  

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Secretary Mayorkas just isn’t a very good religion negotiating companion. He’s unwilling to implement current federal legislation. Why would we consider that he would do any new provision? He is lied to Congress repeatedly. He is lied to me personally, beneath oath–  

MARGARET BRENNAN: — About what? 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: He is stood in entrance of my committee on a number of events and insisted that the border is closed and safe when everybody in America is aware of it isn’t true. He is not a very good religion partner– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, that is additionally a semantic argument, you understand that, because– 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: No, no, that is a matter of goal reality. And he has lied to Congress repeatedly. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, that could be a matter of semantics by way of individuals being apprehended, as you understand, coming right here, and as soon as they’re apprehended, then say they need to declare asylum. 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Secretary Mayorkas has been to the border, he is talked to the identical officers that we’ve got. He is aware of that this border just isn’t safe. Nobody right here believes it. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: However you are not- You are not saying that every one these officers you met with on the bottom who’re doing the robust work right here aren’t really performing the roles which can be required to?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Oh, they’re doing heroic work. However- but it surely’s an unimaginable scenario that is been created by the Secretary of their division.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So the senators who’re negotiating with the White Home proper now haven’t shared the textual content of what they’re placing along with you, is that correct? 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Proper. Proper. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, so one of many essential Republican negotiators, Lindsey Graham was with us on Sunday and he stated, there have been three issues that might assist get a deal to cross the Home: asylum reform, limitations on parole, and reinvigorating expulsion authority. These issues are being negotiated. So what extra do you want? 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Properly, you’ve got heard us say repeatedly, insisting upon the provisions of HR 2, which is our laws that we handed greater than seven months in the past. I have been insistent upon this because the day I used to be handed the gavel and made this clear to our Senate colleagues, to the White Home and anybody who would pay attention. The explanation that every one of these provisions are essential is since you want all of these provisions to have an effect on the change right here to stem the move to cease this disaster and crisis– 

MARGARET BRENNAN:  We now have a customer right here – hello pup! 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: He is from Venezuela. So, provisions of HR 2 embody reforming that damaged parole system reforming the damaged asylum process– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: — but it surely’s acquired no future within the Senate. Even Republican senators like James Lankford and Lindsey Graham say they do not need it. Biden’s going to veto it. So it is lifeless on arrival.

SPEAKER JOHNSON: I do not know when you can communicate for all of the senators, there’s quite a bit who perceive why these provisions are essential. And the reason being as a result of we included every of these issues as a result of by means of example- when you solely reform a kind of 5 provisions, when you do not finish catch and launch as a coverage, when you do not reinstitute stay in Mexico, when you solely repair asylum or parole and never these different issues, then you do not remedy the issue. You do not stem the move right here. And once more, that is the primary goal in order that we are able to get a deal with on this disaster.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So do you consider that there’s $14 billion wanted for funding issues? Right here and our little pup? Do you- do you consider that extra border funding is required?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: It is- I do not believe- our place is– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: As a result of the White Home says they need to rent extra brokers, they need to do all kinds of issues, and you’re standing in the best way within the Home.

SPEAKER JOHNSON: That is nonsense. It is absolute nonsense, they’ve to resolve the disaster right here and throwing extra money on the damaged system is not going to do this. All it will– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: However you are not opposing funding like that is what I am attempting to make clear. 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: No. However we have- we perceive that border patrol wants the mandatory assets to do its job. However they can not do the job that they are employed to do except you modify the coverage right here. And that is why we’re so insistent on that being achieved. And once more, the- the appliance and enforcement of current federal legislation will do the trick. We do not even want new legislation, we’d like the White Home to do what it ought to and what it will possibly. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, Chip Roy, Congressman from Texas, stated, it is nice you got here right here, but it surely wasn’t value him coming as a result of he thought this was all only a photo-op, primarily. And he stated he’ll refuse to fund the federal government till Biden indicators HR 2, or its equal. Is that this like a menace to close down the federal government?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: No. Chip is considered one of my closest mates and colleagues. I talked to him final evening. That is not what he supposed to say, what he meant was– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: It was a two-page letter– 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Properly, I do know I learn the letter. And I understood that very in another way. I do know what Chip is saying; he’s from Texas- South Texas. He is been right here a dozen instances. He is seen all this himself many instances, and tried to relay this to colleagues. So he did not want- not need to ship a message to his constituents that he was going to come- he himself was going to come back right here for some picture op or some media alternative. A few of these members had not been right here earlier than, some have been right here a few times, but it surely’s been fairly a while. We have by no means had this many members collected in a single place for this objective. And it was actually essential not only for symbolism, however in order that they may see the magnitude of the disaster now as a result of once more, it is worse than it is ever been in historical past. I feel you have- we’ve got the resolve of all of the Home Republicans, I imply, from each district who perceive it is a vital situation. And so they consider that as a result of they’ve seen it with their very own eyes, and their constituents are telling them that, that that is essential for us to repair. And actually, current polling affirms you bought about eight in ten Individuals who consider that that is both an emergency or very severe scenario that Congress ought to tackle, that the White Home first ought to tackle. That the federal government collectively has to get on prime of this. We’re doing our half, we have achieved our half, and we’d like the opposite companions within the federal authorities to take action.

MARGARET BRENNAN: However you’ll probably be open to what the Senate is negotiating and put it on the ground within the Home. 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: It is a hypothetical query. Once more, they’ve not despatched me any of those provisions. However I’ve instructed them what we expect– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: However you desire a deal?  

SPEAKER JOHNSON: After all we wish a deal. We need to remedy this disaster. We now have to- we’ve got an ethical obligation to take action. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Look, you on the finish of this month are gonna have a majority of simply 219. Republicans. You want 218 to control. Have you ever talked to the Democratic chief about what it will take to get a invoice via? Have you ever talked to the White Home?

SPEAKER JOHNSON No, I imply, Hakeem Jeffries and I are colleagues and mates and I’ve a very good relationship with him. I am not deterred by this in any respect. I am- I am undaunted by this. We take care of the numbers that we’ve got. It is going to be one of many smallest majorities within the historical past of the Congress, clearly– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: It does not offer you a whole lot of wiggle room. 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: It does not. However we do have, I feel, a whole lot of unity on the massive essential points that we’re actually centered on. And I am assured that we’ll get the job achieved and be capable of exhibit that we are able to govern properly, and I feel that is one of many causes it is going to broaden this majority within the subsequent election cycle. I am very optimistic about that. I additionally consider the Republican Celebration goes to win again the Senate and I feel the White Home as properly. So–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, first you gotta preserve the federal government open. January nineteenth. 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: We do and we have been negotiating in good religion all via the vacations day-after-day over the vacations, aside from Christmas, on the highest line numbers, and I feel that we could also be near a deal, however we’ve got insisted that federal spending should be addressed in a really severe and sober method. We crossed an essential threshold this week, 30- 34 trillion {dollars} in federal debt. There’s by no means been something of that magnitude within the historical past of the nation and it isn’t sustainable. The- the Congress has a accountability. We now have the facility of the purse, after all, and we’ve got to be good stewards of valuable taxpayer assets. We- we can not proceed to borrow cash to spend it. And so decreasing non-defense discretionary spending should be a precedence of Congress. And we’re attempting to insist upon that in these negotiations.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So that is Congressman Tony Gonzales, his district. 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Sure. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: He was with us just lately and he stated that migrants are the ‘lifeblood of our nation.’ Immigrants are the lifeblood of our nation. Former President Trump stated immigrants are poisoning the blood of America. And I ponder the place you fall?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: The place I fall is that I consider, clearly, authorized immigration has been a vital a part of our nation’s historical past. We’re a nation of immigrants. Tony is strictly proper about that. However the important thing phrase is authorized, and what we’re seeing proper now could be a mass move of unlawful immigration. And so we’ve got to insist upon the rule of legislation. That is actually essential to take care of the safety of our nation and the sovereignty of our nation. If you do not have a border, which successfully we should not have proper now. You do not have sovereignty as a rustic and that- this needs to be a prime concern for each American irrespective of the way you articulate it.

MARGARET BRENNAN:  When President Trump says immigrants are poisoning the blood of our nation. Is {that a} assertion you agree with?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: That is not language I might use but- however I perceive the urgency of President Trump’s admonition. He is been saying this since he ran for president the primary time that we’ve got to safe the border, and I feel the overwhelming majority of the American individuals perceive the need of that and I feel they agree along with his place.

MARGARET BRENNAN: However that assertion goes past what you’re personally snug with? 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: It is not language I might use. However- However perceive– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Trigger it sounds hateful. 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Properly, it isn’t hateful. What President Trump is attempting to advance is his America first precedence. And I feel that is smart to lots of people.  The present President, President Biden needs further supplemental spending on nationwide safety, however he denies a very powerful level of our personal nationwide safety. And that’s our personal border. And in order that’s irritating to him–

MARGARET BRENNAN:  However you possibly can say that with out speaking about blood and purity.

SPEAKER JOHNSON: President Biden’s place is irritating to us. It is irritating to the American individuals, and definitely to President Trump. And I feel that is what he is, that is what he is articulating there.

MARGARET BRENNAN: However that is why I used to be asking you about balancing the humanity of this versus the nationwide safety and coping with each at once- our canine is again. However I would like to maneuver via right here rapidly. I do know. You are within the presidential line of succession now as Speaker of the Home. You obtain entry to probably the most labeled details about nationwide safety now. How has that modified your worldview, particularly on Ukraine, the place you now say, Vladimir Putin must be defeated?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: I’ve at all times stated Vladimir Putin wanted to be defeated. I’ve by no means modified my place.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Marjorie Taylor Greene got here out publicly a couple of days in the past and stated you had. She stated, “he went from having a voting report to actually a month later going in opposition to his personal voting report and being speaker of the home.” 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: No, I voted in opposition to one of many tranches of Ukraine spending to ship a message to the White Home. That is not a scarcity of resolve in standing for freedom, standing with the Ukrainian individuals. We have at all times been constant in that, however the Home Republicans that voted in opposition to that final tranche of funding earlier than the top of the- mid-summer, I feel the vote was, is as a result of we wished to ship a message to the White Home that they weren’t being clear with the American individuals. What’s the endgame in Ukraine? What’s our technique? What’s the goal? How will we’ve got correct oversight over these valuable taxpayer {dollars}? Remembering after all, as I simply famous, we’ve got 34 trillion {dollars} in federal debt. This can be a very severe matter, to ship cash to Ukraine to help them of their battle, we successfully should borrow it from some place else. And so what we’re saying is, let’s do that in a rational method. After all, we stand for freedom, that is what the USA is about. However we’d like accountability for the people who find themselves funding that. The White Home has not been forthcoming with these solutions. I’ve begged them in writing, publicly, privately in each option to give us these solutions and so they haven’t achieved it. And so with out these solutions, it’s totally troublesome for us to get the mandatory funding to do what should be achieved to cease Vladimir Putin. And–

MARGARET BRENNAN: So, if you met with President Zelensky of Ukraine, did you say to him, I simply do not know if I can get- get you the money. I simply do not know if I can assist proceed to battle this struggle?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: No, no. That is not what I stated to him. I stated we stand resolved with the Ukrainian individuals and along with your battle for Freedom and in opposition to Vladimir Putin who’s a ruthless dictator in my opinion. However- However what he stated publicly, he stated in our assembly, after which he stated in nationwide media in interviews following our assembly, is that he may get the extra funding as late as February. He did not want it in December, because the White Home was- was intimating–

MARGARET BRENNAN: Ukrainian officers instructed us that was actually concerning the sign it despatched, he meant the morality of it. 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Properly no, he instructed me that himself. Yeah, the morale of the individuals is essential. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper. 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: And and, and he requested if we may reiterate that, and I stated, we’d proceed to take action. And we’ve got.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You suppose you may get him Ukraine funding by February, which you’ve got linked to the border?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: There are two issues which can be essential, we should safe the U.S. border earlier than we safe anybody else’s. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: You suppose you may get all this achieved by February? 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: I feel- I feel if the White Home and the Senate are severe about this, and so they take heed to the American individuals, remembering that is an 80% situation with the American individuals. They perceive the need of what we’re speaking about, we’ve got to insist upon securing our personal nation. And likewise if we get the mandatory data, and the mandatory solutions with regard to what- what’s the endgame in Ukraine, and the way will be- we be accountable with the– the expenditure of these assets. The White Home has not given us the mandatory data.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Have you ever spoken with President Biden just lately or Donald Trump just lately?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Sure, each. I imply, sure, I’ve spoken to President Trump very just lately, and President Biden, but- properly, earlier than the vacations.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you’re taking counsel from the previous president or what are your conversations like?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Properly, very pleasant. I imply, I’ve recognized the President properly. I feel- I feel he would be the nominee, and I feel he will win the election and be the following President of the USA. So it is essential to take care of that relationship. It will be an essential one for the nation. You realize, President Biden – 

MARGARET BRENNAN: However you suppose you possibly can nonetheless get the work achieved on the border, the laws and issues like that, even within the sizzling politics of a presidential election yr the place that is being politicized closely?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Properly, it’s being politicized closely and I feel that is very unlucky. I do not suppose this needs to be a Republican or Democrat situation. And if you discuss to the people who find themselves affected right here, closest to the scenario, they agree with that sentiment. And I feel an increasing number of the American individuals perceive we should always put the politics apart and do what’s proper for the nation. And that’s safe this border and guarantee our nationwide sovereignty. That is essential for each group in America. Once more, each state is a border state now.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Again in 2021, you had been the lawmaker who circulated the authorized transient often called the Texas amicus transient, difficult the 2020 election end result in quite a few states, which by CBS editorial requirements makes you an election denier.

SPEAKER JOHNSON: That is nonsense. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly that is…can I get you on the report on that?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: I’ve at all times been constant on the report. Did you learn the transient? Did you get an opportunity to learn what we filed with the Supreme Courtroom? 

MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly I’ve learn extensively some criticisms of that–

SPEAKER JOHNSON: You learn commentary concerning the transient, however not what we submitted to the courtroom proper?

MARGARET BRENNAN: However do you acknowledge that President Biden gained the 2020 election? Are you able to simply put that apart as a difficulty– 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: President Biden was licensed because the winner of the election, he took the oath of workplace, he is been the president for 3 years. What the argument that we introduced to the courtroom, which is our solely avenue to take action, was that the Structure was clearly violated within the 2020 election. It is article two, part one, and anybody can Google it and browse it for themselves. The– the system by which you select electors to elect the president of the USA should be achieved by the person states and the system should be ratified the state legislatures, that’s language, plain language within the structure– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: So you continue to have points with the validity of the 2020 election? 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Anybody who Googles–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –despite the fact that the Home

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Anybody who pulls up the Structure– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: – majority. Sorry, go forward.

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Anybody who pulls up the Structure on their smartphone, and reads article two part one of many Structure has to agree with what I simply instructed you. The Structure was violated within the run as much as the 2020 election, not at all times in dangerous religion, however within the aftermath of COVID, many states modified their election legal guidelines in ways in which violated that plain language. That is only a reality. We introduced that argument and that these details to the courtroom, and it was by no means instantly addressed due to the Texas litigation, however that was the one car we needed to current that situation squarely to the courtroom.

MARGARET BRENNAN: It was utterly shut down as a difficulty. However your colleague Liz Cheney, your former colleague, wrote, “Mike Johnson and our Republican leaders had performed a harmful function.” You, she says, “satisfied 125 different Republican members of Congress to signal on to an amicus transient that many by no means learn that made quite a few false factual and constitutional claims.” How do you reply to that, and the impression that you simply might need contributed indirectly?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: I do not spend a lot time responding to Liz Cheney’s criticism today. Liz Cheney labored with the Democrats on the Jan 6, January 6, choose committee to make all of this much more politicized than it was. She was a detailed good friend and colleague earlier than– 

MARGARET BRENNAN: She stated that in her ebook about you– 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: –she made these decisions. Yeah.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Which is why she’s shocked, she stated. 

SPEAKER JOHNSON: Properly I am shocked that she’s provided that criticism as a result of throughout that course of, Liz and I had been in fixed dialogue about that. And at one level she even thought-about signing on to that invoice. I am going to let you know that that could be a reality, to that amicus transient. And we talked about that at nice size, and we had a distinction of opinion on the legislation, and folks can conform to disagree on that. However I am telling you that the plain language of the Structure has by no means modified. And what occurred in lots of states by altering the election legal guidelines with out ratification by the state legislatures is a violation of the Structure. That is a- that is a plain undeniable fact that nobody can dispute.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So simply how, how do you make sense of the concept you continue to have points with the validity of the 2020 election, however you must negotiate and discuss with the President of the USA Joe Biden?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: That is water beneath–

MARGARET BRENNAN: How do you do this?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: –That is water beneath the bridge. I imply, when- when the Supreme Courtroom handed on the Texas litigation and didn’t tackle the problem. I consider within the rule of legislation. That is our system, we transfer ahead. I work with President Biden because the President of the USA. I am attempting very onerous to make sure that he’s solely a one-termer, as a result of I consider he has been an abject failure because the Commander-in-Chief of our nation. And I feel on each metric of public coverage, that’s objectively true. Actually, I am unsure that there is something the administration may level to as an actual success. And so I feel that he will likely be a one-term president. However, you understand, this dialogue about what occurred in 2020 is- is yesterday’s information. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to ask you, although, as a result of a majority of Home Republicans voted to authorize an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden just lately. What do you suppose he needs to be impeached for? And the way do you negotiate with him within the technique of that impeachment or potential impeachment?

SPEAKER JOHNSON: The home has- among the many very heavy obligations that the Home of Representatives holds subsequent to the declaration of struggle, impeachment might be the heaviest energy that we’ve got. Within the- within the earlier administration, we had been very vital of the Home Democrats as a result of they politicized impeachment, they used it for uncooked partisan functions, in my opinion. Sham impeachment is what we known as it and I used to be on report many instances saying that, decrying that and saying that that’s not the best way that we should always deal with that heavy energy of the Home. We do have accountability, nevertheless, to analyze issues which can be untoward. And this has occurred with the Biden administration, very methodically, very fastidiously in a method that’s precisely the alternative of what the Home Democrats did throughout the Trump administration. We now have investigated these credible claims, whistleblowers have come ahead, we had three completely different committees of the Home do in depth investigation on this. The investigations led to a sure level, the reality has been adopted wherever it led, as a result of that is the accountability of Congress. And- and now the investigation has been impeded, the White Home has all of the sudden refused to show over paperwork which were requested and sure witnesses which can be key to unwinding precisely what occurred. So there are nonetheless some questions that should be answered. So it got here to a sure level that the home needed to cross the impeachment inquiry as a measure, as a result of that places us on the apex of our constitutional authority as a result of we’ll should implement the subpoenas in a courtroom of legislation. That was a essential step that we needed to take. So once more, it is nonetheless not been prejudge, we have not made a willpower that impeachment goes to occur right here. However we’ve got to take these subsequent essential steps to get these remaining depositions and people paperwork to have the ability to uncover the rest of the reality.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So you have not made the conclusion that you’ve got seen proof that you’re going to transfer ahead

SPEAKER JOHNSON:  Properly, no, you possibly can’t prejudge an impeachment inquiry or investigation. I feel that might be a violation of our obligation beneath the Structure, you must examine and observe the reality the place it leads, however we all know the place that reality is proven us to this point. I imply, you’ve gotten greater than $20 million that has been moved to the Biden household via lots of their shell corporations and in LLCs, that they arrange. We all know that a whole lot of that cash got here from international adversaries, together with China and Russia and Kazakhstan and locations like that. We all know that Joe Biden mentioned Hunter Biden’s enterprise dealings not less than 22 instances along with his associates from these international nations, and we all know he- he was not truthful about it, he lied concerning the American individuals not less than 16 instances on report, his- an understanding or involvement in all of this stuff. So it raises a whole lot of questions. We have had whistleblowers come ahead from the IRS, for instance, who’ve proven that these monies weren’t proven appropriately and recorded on tax returns, and so forth. So there may be a whole lot of smoke right here and Congress has the accountability to search out the hearth if it exists, and that is what they’re doing proper now. Very, very fastidiously.