In an interview with ABC’s ‘This Week,’ Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said he would support House Speaker Mike Johnson in any attempt to remove him from the speakership position.
Host Jonathan Karl asked Khanna if Johnson deserved credit for pushing through American taxpayer dollars to Ukraine.
“Congressman Khanna, does Speaker Johnson deserve credit for how this played out?” Karl asked.
Khanna praised Johnson and said he would table any motion to vacate him.
“He does. Look, we came into Congress together and he always cared about civility. He actually led the civility pledge. And he, we had one issue, which was give individual votes. Don’t lump things together. And I give him credit for doing this. I would actually vote to table any motion to vacate him,” Khanna said.
“You just said something significant. You said you would oppose the tabled – the motion to vacate. In other words, you will protect Speaker Johnson’s job if Marjorie Taylor Greene and the others go through with their threat to try to remove him?” Karl asked.
“I would, through the end of the term. I expect Speaker Jeffries will be there in 2025,” Khanna answered.
“But look, I’m a progressive Democrat and I think you would have a few progressive Democrats doing that. And I disagree with Speaker Johnson on many issues and have been very critical of him. But he did the right thing here and he deserves to keep his job until the end of his term,” he continued.
WATCH:
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna tells @JonKarl that he would vote to support Speaker Mike Johnson if Republicans tried to remove him for securing Ukraine aid.
“He did the right thing here and he deserves to keep his job until the end of this term.” https://t.co/xaDuxyoG51 pic.twitter.com/znG8X4S0KR
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) April 21, 2024
Khanna’s comments follow multiple Republican members of Congress signaling support to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson from his position.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) announced he would co-sponsor Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) motion to vacate the chair.
“I just told Mike Johnson in conference that I’m cosponsoring the Motion to Vacate that was introduced by @RepMTG. He should pre-announce his resignation (as Boehner did), so we can pick a new Speaker without ever being without a GOP Speaker,” Massie said.
I just told Mike Johnson in conference that I’m cosponsoring the Motion to Vacate that was introduced by @RepMTG.
He should pre-announce his resignation (as Boehner did), so we can pick a new Speaker without ever being without a GOP Speaker.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) April 16, 2024
Massie stated:
Speaker Johnson has led the GOP to pass:
1) an omnibus that spends more than Pelosi’s highest year
2) an expansion of the domestic warrantless surveillance program
ADVERTISEMENTand this week he’s pushing
3) Schumer’s dream bill which contains $100 billion of foreign aid, mostly for war.
Speaker Johnson has led the GOP to pass:
1) an omnibus that spends more than Pelosi’s highest year
2) an expansion of the domestic warrantless surveillance program
and this week he’s pushing
3) Schumer’s dream bill which contains $100 billion of foreign aid, mostly for war.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) April 16, 2024
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) announced he would join Massie to co-sponsor the motion to vacate the chair.
Gosar issued a statement on supporting the Motion to Vacate the Speaker.
“Nearly 11 million illegal aliens have crossed our southern border in the past three years. My congressional district in Arizona, ground zero for the invasion, is getting pummeled by the surge of lawbreakers. These illegal aliens have brought violent crime, deadly drugs, human trafficking and are depleting resources and services meant for U.S. citizens. In fact, every state has become a border state. Communities across the country are being ravaged, families are being destroyed and Americans in need are being ignored. Congress cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the consequence of Biden’s disastrous open border policies, nor can it idly wait for Biden to halt this invasion through executive fiat. Congress has the responsibility to solve this crisis,” Gosar said.
“Yet rather than spending the resources to secure our southern border and combating the invasion of 11 million illegals and despite repeated promises there would be no additional money going to Ukraine without first securing our border, the United States House of Representatives, under the direction of the Speaker, is on the verge of sending another $61 billion to further draw America into an endless and purposeless war in Ukraine,” Gosar continued.
“I have added my name in support of the motion to vacate the Speaker. Our border cannot be an afterthought. We need a Speaker who puts America first rather than bending to the reckless demands of the warmongers, neo-cons and the military industrial complex making billions from a costly and endless war half a world away,” he concluded.
My statement joining .@RepThomasMassie on cosponsoring .@RepMTG Motion to Vacate:
Gosar Statement on Supporting the Motion to Vacate the Speaker
Washington, D.C. — Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement after cosponsoring H.Res. 1103,…
— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) April 19, 2024
On Saturday, the House passed the $95 billion foreign aid package to send American taxpayer dollars to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
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