As speaker of the House, Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., is one of the most powerful people in the country — on paper at least. As he settles into the role, though, it’s once again becoming clear how the position hasn’t translated into power for recent Republicans who’ve held the speaker’s gavel.
For proof of that, look to Johnson’s news conference Tuesday to discuss the progress (and I use that term loosely) that’s been made in the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Standing alongside the chairs of the House Oversight Committee and the Judiciary Committee, Johnson said that as a constitutional lawyer (a term that he should use loosely) who served on then- President Donald Trump’s impeachment defense team both times, he had “lamented” the “brazenly political” and “meritless” impeachment charges Democrats brought.
In contrast, he claimed, the GOP’s impeachment efforts have been nothing but open and transparent, because, and I quote, “the Republican Party stands for the rule of law.”
Just at the surface level, Johnson’s implying that the House GOP’s response to the Trump impeachments shows its commitment to the rule of law is hilarious. So, too, is his claim that in the GOP investigation into Biden, Republicans are simply following the facts wherever they may lead. But it’s a song and dance Johnson has to perform if he wants to remain speaker.
House Republicans ended their 21-day civil war last month — not with a peace treaty but with a cease-fire — as Johnson won the support of his conference. That chaos left even the most die-hard conservatives licking their wounds and unwilling to challenge Johnson too forcefully. This honeymoon period even extended through Johnson’s working to pass a short-term funding bill with mostly Democratic votes, the sin that got his predecessor, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., evicted from the speakership.
But their patience seems to be waning. Politico reported Thursday that “Johnson…
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