House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., vowed to retaliate for the guilty verdict against former President Donald Trump on Sunday, declaring that House Republicans would use “everything in our arsenal.”
Johnson made these remarks during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday” with host Shannon Bream, emphasizing the oversight powers that the House possesses and their intent to leverage them against what he termed as corrupt prosecutors. However, he was clear that Republicans must operate within the “rule of law.”
“We are the rule of law party. Chaos is not a conservative value. We have to fight back, and we will with everything in our arsenal. But we will do that within the confines of the rule of law,” Johnson asserted.
He further elaborated, “We believe in our institutions. We are conservatives, and we are trying to conserve the greatest country in the history of the world. And its institutions are an important part of that. Our system of justice is an important part of that.”
The guilty verdict against Trump came from a Manhattan courtroom, where he was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, a decision that has sparked outrage among conservatives. Host Shannon Bream highlighted claims from some conservatives suggesting that the appropriate response would be to initiate prosecutions against Democratic politicians.
Johnson stressed that Republicans should adhere to the rule of law, pointing to the efforts of House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. Jordan has summoned Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the lead prosecutors in Trump’s case to testify before the committee on June 13.
Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11. The former president has leveraged his conviction to rally his base, arguing that his prosecution is politically motivated. He still faces three additional indictments.
In the wake of his conviction, Trump’s campaign has seen a surge in fundraising, bringing in tens of millions of dollars. His campaign estimates that they will raise approximately $150 million over the course of the week, demonstrating the significant financial support from his voter base.
Johnson’s commitment to using all available legislative tools underscores the deepening political divide and the high stakes involved as the 2024 election approaches. His emphasis on maintaining adherence to the rule of law while aggressively pursuing oversight and accountability reflects the delicate balance Republicans aim to strike in their response to the legal challenges facing Trump.
