As House Republicans prepare to vote on formalizing the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, Speaker Mike Johnson was questioned about showing “restraint” in moving forward.
The Louisiana Republican was put on the spot by Fox News anchor Bret Baier who pulled out a four-year-old video clip of the lawmaker calling for “greater restraint” from Congress as Democrats plowed ahead to impeach then-President Donald Trump.
“There’s some concern in the caucus that the push for impeachment is losing some steam,” Baier said on Tuesday’s edition of “Special Report” as he spoke with Johnson about the upcoming vote.
The vote Wednesday comes as critics are clamoring for Republicans to produce proof of the allegations against the president and that he profited from his son Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings while in in office.
Baier: Exactly four years ago, this is Rep. Mike Johnson..
Johnson: I stand by every word I said in that video. There is a big distinction between what’s happening now and what the Democrats did. Those were rushed sham impeachments. pic.twitter.com/gAx4hAMjyH
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 12, 2023
“Tomorrow, we’ll be voting on the inquiry,” Johnson told Baier.
“Why are we doing that? ‘Cause it’s the next necessary step. The White House has stonewalled this investigation. It’s gone methodically, carefully, as the Constitution requires of us. It’s a very serious matter. But right now, they’re not turning over documents. They’re not turning over key witnesses, and we will have to defend our subpoenas in court. So, to do that, you need an impeachment inquiry vote from the full House,” the House speaker explained.
Baier went on to replay an older clip of Johnson.
“Exactly four years ago, this is Representative Mike Johnson,” he said.
“The Founders of this country warned against single-party impeachment for good reason. They feared it would bitterly and irreparably divide our nation…,” Johnson told House Democrats and colleagues in the video.
“As the next election in 2020 is drawing so close now, and their candidates for president are so terribly weak, they obviously met somewhere at liberal high command about 75 days ago and convinced Nancy Pelosi, they had to pull the trigger…,” he continued, referring to then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
“I hope and pray future Congresses can and will exercise greater restraint,” Johnson said at the time.
Baier then asked the lawmaker bluntly, “So, the moderates in your caucus would say, ‘Why not exercise greater restraint now?’”
Johnson pushed back, noting that Republicans have, in fact, shown restraint – a point many conservatives have been critical of.
“Well, we’ve shown great restraint,” the speaker said.
“I mean, there are a lot of people who are frustrated this hasn’t moved faster,” he noted. “But there’s a big distinction. I stand by every word I said in that video. There’s a big distinction between what’s happening now and what the Democrats do. Those were rushed, sham impeachments.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
- Carville’s evil rant brags that Democrats will go after Trump’s ‘stupid jacka– kids and their spouses’ after midterms - April 2, 2026
- Furious Macron hits back after Trump mocked his wife slap heard round the world - April 2, 2026
- Convenience store owner, originally from Haiti, trafficked nearly $7 M in food stamp benefits - April 2, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.