Mike Johnson acts as proxy for 'friend' Trump as he bashes judge's daughter and 'sham trial' outside court | The Independent
By: Eric Garcia (The Independent)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The Republican speaker's defense of Trump comes in the midst of Michael Cohen's testimony
Eric Garcia Washington DC Tuesday 14 May 2024 17:04✕CloseHush money trial 'weaponized' against Trump, speaker Johnson claims
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson vocally defended former president Donald Trump outside the New York City courthouse where the former president's criminal trial was taking place on Tuesday.
Mr Johnson said he was speaking out in defence of his "friend," the former president, and decried the "sham" trial.
"I wanted to be here myself, to call out what is a travesty of justice," Mr Johnson told reporters. "President Trump is a friend and I wanted to be here to support him."
The Louisiana Republican is an ally of Mr Trump who assumed the gavel in October of last year and led House Republicans' legal efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
(Getty Images)
Mr Johnson spoke to reporters shortly after Michael Cohen, Mr Trump's former attorney and fixer who made the $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels at the heart of the case, began his testimony. Mr Cohen reportedly made the payment to keep Ms Daniels silent about a sexual encounter with Mr Trump in 2006, which the former president has denied.
"I just listened to a few moments of his testimony this morning and it is consistent with what he's already done," Mr Johnson said.
He then alluded to the fact Mr Cohen previously pleaded guilty to lying in federal court and lying to Congress.
"This is a man who is clearly on a mission for personal revenge, and who is widely known as a witness who has trouble with the truth," Mr Johnson said. "He lied to Congress. He lied to the IRS. He lied to federal election officials. Even Cohen's own lawyer testified to a grand jury that he is not reliable. So, there's nothing that he presents here that should be given any weight at all by a jury and certainly not this judge."
Despite his reputation as a devout Christian, Mr Johnson has formed a strong bond with the former president who once appeared on the cover of Playboy. Mr Trump came out in support of Mr Johnson and opposed pro-Trump Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene's efforts to oust Mr Johnson last week.
Mr Johnson criticized the charge that Mr Trump falsified his business records.
"I think everybody knows he is not the bookkeeper for his company," he said. "President Trump is innocent of these charges, and again, anyone with common sense can understand what is happening here."
Mr Johnson is just the latest Republican-elected official to head to New York to show their support for the former president. Senators Rick Scott of Florida, JD Vance of Ohio and Senator Tommy Tuberville are among the many who have made the pilgrimage to the Manhattan courthouse.
The speaker also decried the gag order in place to stop Mr Trump from speaking about the trial. The former president has already been fined for violating the order.
Mr Johnson then attacked the judge and his daughter in ways that had previously led to Mr Trump receiving the gag order in the first place.
"The system is using all the tools at its disposal right now to punish one president and provide cover for another," Mr Johnson said. "And meanwhile, among the atrocities here, the judge's own daughter is making millions of dollars doing online fundraising for Democrats. They're using this trial as a hook, it's so corrupt. It's so corrupt, and everybody knows it."
Loren Merchan, the judge's daughter, previously worked as president and partner of Authentic Campaigns, a firm that helps elect Democrats.
Mr Johnson also said that the Republican-controlled House would take steps to rein in Special Counsel Jack Smith.
"These are politically motivated trials, and they are a disgrace," he said. "It is election interference, and they show the opposition that President Trump has and how desperate they truly are."
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'Bout time someone publicly set the record straight.
I've been saying it right along: Trump needs people to campaign for him while Biden has him stuck in court.
When Johnson spoke outside the courthouse Fox News covered it. MSNBC showed the film of him speaking without any volume as they analyzed the case. The anchor on the show said "I wonder what he is saying?"
He stuck himself in court. Biden had nothing to do with it and you know it, quit spreading lies.
The NBC anchor stuck himself in court? When did that happen?
Sure he didn't.
Brandon's and Garland's fingerprints are all over this trial.
I am sure you will be all for holding Brandon and Garland responsible.
Not violation of the censorship. People are just going to have to deal with it.
But as the head of the company, he is responsible for what happens in the company.
Same way Brandon is responsible for White House attorneys and DOJ/Garland meeting state AG and DA involved in Trump's cases.
Or does the law only apply to Republicans/Conservatives?
Kind of like paying off a porn star to keep quiet so she wouldn't negatively affect potential voters? Like that, Mike? What a fucking loser POS.