New Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has been described as “the most important architect of the Electoral College objections" during Republicans' efforts to undemocratically overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
But beware all reporters who dare to ask him about it.
Johnson is the conservative representative who filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in 2020 to overturn President Joe Biden's victory in in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Michigan. He was one of 125 Republicans who signed onto the filing, despite having insufficient evidence to prove their claims of widespread voter fraud.
The GOP revealed Johnson as their nominee after three weeks of chaos in the House during a press conference Tuesday, ahead of Wednesday's vote solidifying him. When ABC reporter Rachel Scott started to ask Johnson about his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Republican representatives interrupted her by booing and screaming at her.
Republican lawmakers tell reporter to SHUT UP!
“Mr Johnson, you helped lead the efforts to overturn the 2020 election result,” Scott said, before she was cut off.
“Shut up! Shut up!” screamed Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina.
Johnson only shook his head and smiled as other representatives laughed and jeered. When Scott attempted to speak again, asking if Johnson will "support additional aid to Ukraine," Foxx and other Republicans once again lost their decorum.
“You asked your question. Go away. Go away,” Foxx shrieked.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has put pressure on Congress to provide aid, which the House of Representatives has been unable to do without a speaker. Despite this, Johnson only stated: "We’re not doing any policy tonight."
Scott later described the moment on Twitter.House Republicans were swiftly and universally condemned for their treatment of a journalist. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed Johnson's "extremist" record, and his unwillingness to answer to it.
“Introducing extremist GOP Speaker nominee Mike Johnson. He was a key architect of the Jan 6th strategy to overturn the US election," she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Here he is leading a crowd that’s booing and telling a Congressional correspondent to “shut up” when asking about it."
“I really dislike these people,” former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger added. “Everyone is being thrown in jail for this lie and they smile like clowns.”
Senior National Correspondent at ABC News, Terry Moran, praised how Scott "hit a nerve" with Republicans, noting that "the surest sign that you have asked the right question is when the powerful congressman you asked it of — and his buddies — try to shut you down and shut you up."
"It’s a perfectly legitimate question," he continued. "Why won’t he answer?"
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