The House of Representatives has seen significant political maneuvering in recent weeks, notably when House Speaker Mike Johnson received unexpected support from Democrats in the face of a motion to vacate brought by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). The move to table the motion, initiated by House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), saw broad bipartisan support with a vote of 359 to 43, indicating a significant level of support for Johnson’s leadership.
Greene’s motion to vacate the speakership came after meetings with Johnson where she discussed her grievances and demands. However, her motion was quickly defeated with support from both sides of the aisle. This support from Democrats was attributed to Johnson’s role in passing a large foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region.
Following the vote, Johnson indicated he would not pursue efforts to defund special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump. When asked if he would insert language into appropriations bills to remove funding for Smith’s office, Johnson firmly responded with a “no.” He explained that the special counsel serves a necessary role in situations where the Department of Justice might face a conflict of interest in prosecuting a president or the president’s family.
