Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday fired back at CBS host Margaret Brennan after she called him an “election denier” in a previous court filing in 2020.
Mr Johnson appeared on 'Face the Nation' to discuss his 2024 parliamentary goals and upcoming elections. During the interview, Brennan brought up Johnson's support for former President Trump, noting his role in filing a lawsuit alleging constitutional violations during the 2020 election.
Mr. Brennan asked the Speaker about his previous brief push and informed him that he was considered an “election denier” under “CBS editorial standards.” Mr Johnson quickly called the claims “nonsense” and asked Mr Brennan if he had read the brief. (Related: 'We are completely under control': House Speaker Mike Johnson explains situation at 'epicenter' of border crisis)
“You were a lawmaker who challenged the 2020 election results in a number of states and distributed a legal brief known as the Texas Court Brief. According to CBS editorial standards, this It makes you a denier,” Brennan said.
“That's nonsense,” Johnson said.
“Could you please put that on the record?” Brennan asked.
“I've always been consistent on the record. Have you read the brief? Have you had a chance to read what we filed with the Supreme Court?” Johnson asked.
Mr Brennan said he had “thoroughly” read “some of the criticisms” in the brief, but Mr Johnson said she had only read the “commentary” and not what was “submitted to the court”. It pointed out. But the CBS host again asked Johnson if he recognized President Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election.
Johnson said that although Biden was “certified” as the “winner,” the lawsuit only alleges that the Constitution was “violated” by last-minute election changes. (Related: Congress unlikely to pass all spending bill by next government funding deadline in 2024, experts say)
“But do you recognize that President Biden won the 2020 election? Can you put that aside as an issue?” Brennan asked.
“President Biden has been certified the winner of the election. He has taken the oath of office and has served as president for three years. The argument we made to the court is that this is our only recourse. The clear violation of the Constitution in the 2020 election was Article II, Section 1, which anyone can Google and read for themselves. Election to Elect the President of the United States “The system of choosing people is done by each state, and that system has to be approved by the state legislature. That's the clear language of the Constitution,” Johnson said.
“So does that mean there are still questions about the validity of the 2020 election?” Brennan asked.
“The Constitution was violated in the lead-up to the 2020 election. Not necessarily maliciously, but in the aftermath of COVID-19, many states changed their election laws in ways that defy that plain language.” .That's just a fact. We submitted that argument and that fact to the court, but it was never directly addressed because of the Texas case. But that's why we brought this issue to the court. It was the only recourse we had to bring it up,” Johnson said.
“That has been completely shut down as an issue,” Brennan quickly responded.
Johnson previously called out the chairman of the Republican Study Committee when he filed amicus briefs in support of a Texas lawsuit challenging the 2020 election results in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. was serving. according to To The Hill. It later became known as the “Texas court brief.” lawsuit It ultimately gained the support of more than 100 House Republicans.
The lawsuit argued that pursuant to Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, presidential electors are “appointed in accordance with the direction of the state.” But months before the 2020 election, the “rules” were “deliberately changed” by “both state and non-state actors,” the lawsuit claimed.
The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately threw out the brief in December 2020, stating that it did not have standing to be filed. according to To the Texas Tribune.
