During a new episode of her show on MSNBC, former Biden administration official-turned-host Jen Psaki said more attention should be paid to circumstances surrounding GOP Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (La.) than what’s been given to the expelled New York GOP Congressman George Santos.
Santos continues facing criminal charges from federal authorities for an array of alleged financial misconduct and deception to governmental entities, and Santos was removed from the House after a report from the chamber’s Ethics Committee accused him of misusing campaign funds on personal expenses. Still in the House, though, is Johnson, who has consistently espoused far-right talking points and, to the serious concern of many, was among those leading opposition to the 2020 presidential election results as the ill-fated challenges from Trump’s various supporters moved forward.
“I think we need to spend less time talking about the no-name, now ex-Congressman from New York who never had any real power to begin with and certainly doesn’t now and more time talking about the man who is currently second in line for the presidency,” Psaki said. She then discussed the recent report that Johnson had written a foreword for a book that, among other antagonizing turns, had included homophobic insults directed at Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The volume (not the part Johnson wrote) termed Buttigieg a “queer choice” for the role he holds, leaning on language historically used to denigrate members of the LGBTQ+ community. (Buttigieg is openly gay.)
“I endorse the work,” Johnson separately said on an episode of his podcast, as Psaki further highlighted. He was referring to the book, which was called “The Revivalist Manifesto.” “Mike Johnson’s views are dangerous. It doesn’t get much clearer than that,” Psaki told viewers. Johnson is also among the Republicans vehemently opposed to abortion, having characterized the occurrence of the procedure in the United States as an “American holocaust.”
“I think we need to spend less time talking about the no-name, now ex-Congressman from New York who never had any real power to begin with. The real scandal is about the man who is currently second in line for the presidency.”
@jrpsaki explains why: pic.twitter.com/3ENLliDhHM— Inside with Jen Psaki (@InsideWithPsaki) December 3, 2023
