Less than a week after Senate Republicans declared their intention to stymie the Democratic agenda in response to the blatant weaponization of the government against former President Donald Trump, House Republicans are doing the same.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) unveiled a “three-pronged” strategy for dealing with efforts to use the government to target the former president and influence the outcome of the upcoming presidential election.
Three people, two GOP lawmakers and a source familiar with the plan, told Fox News Digital that Johnson’s strategy to rein in the “weaponization” of the DOJ is broadly focused on three pillars: oversight, appropriations and legislation.
Johnson updated Trump on the plan ahead of announcing it to his House GOP conference, Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital.
Johnson confirmed his approach during a press conference just after the meeting.
“We’re going to do everything we can, everything within our scope of our responsibility in the Congress, to address it appropriately. And I announced this morning to our conference, we’re working on a three-pronged approach,” Johnson told reporters.
“We’re looking at various approaches to what can be done here through the appropriations process, through the legislative process, through bills that will be advancing through our committees and put on the floor for passage and through oversight. All those things will be happening vigorously.”
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) told Fox News Digital that the plan “can’t just be words” and that “it’s got to have some action to it.”
Last week, Senate Republicans signed a letter vowing to hamper Democratic legislative initiatives as a rebuke to President Joe Biden and others involved in using the government to target Trump.
To that end, we will not 1) allow any increase to non-security related funding for this administration, or any appropriations bill which funds partisan lawfare; 2) vote to confirm this administration’s political and judicial appointees; and 3) allow expedited consideration and passage of Democrat legislation or authorities that are not directly relevant to the safety of the American people.
In a post on X, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) declared that “Strongly worded statements are not enough” and insisted that “Those who turned our judicial system into a political cudgel must be held accountable.”
Strongly worded statements are not enough.
Those who turned our judicial system into a political cudgel must be held accountable.
We are no longer cooperating with any Democrat legislative priorities or nominations, and we invite all concerned Senators to join our stand. pic.twitter.com/H0CzIjXgwC
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 31, 2024
The details of Johnson’s plan have not yet been revealed. Moreover, it might not be possible for House Republicans to use legislation to rein in the weaponization of government, given that Democrats control the Senate and White House.
Republicans in Congress have roundly condemned the verdict against Trump in the Manhattan trial and have vowed to take action as Democrats seek to skew the election in Biden’s favor through the justice system. Meanwhile, in a sign that voters are paying attention, the former president has raised tens of millions of dollars since his conviction.
