House Speaker Mike Johnson raised eyebrows with his bold assertions about the upcoming 2024 election during an interview with Margaret Brennan on CBS' Face the Nation.
According to Mediaite, Johnson expressed his belief that there will be "cheating" in the upcoming election, specifically claiming that non-citizens will participate in voting.
Johnson's comments have sparked controversy and debate about election integrity. The Speaker's remarks come at a time when election security and voter fraud remain hot-button issues in American politics.
During the interview, Johnson stated unequivocally, "I think there is going to be some cheating in this election." He went on to specify his concerns, adding, "I think non-citizens are going to vote."
When challenged by Brennan about potentially undermining confidence in state elections, Johnson defended his stance. He argued that it wasn't his actions undermining election integrity but rather those of the Biden-Harris administration and certain states.
Johnson pointed to federal law prohibiting non-citizens from voting and criticized Democrats for blocking legislation he claims would have strengthened voter identification requirements.
The Speaker highlighted efforts by Republican governors to conduct audits of voter rolls and implement measures to ensure election integrity. However, he expressed concern about practices in some Democrat-led states, such as ballot harvesting in California and unmanned ballot boxes in Wisconsin parks.
Brennan pushed back on Johnson's statements, noting that states, not the federal government, run elections. She questioned why Johnson wasn't addressing his concerns directly with state governors.
Johnson acknowledged the role of states in managing elections but emphasized the importance of federal-level efforts to encourage voter integrity measures across all states.
The CBS News host pointed out an apparent contradiction in Johnson's stance. While expressing concerns about election integrity, the Speaker has not reconvened Congress ahead of the November vote to address these issues legislatively.
Johnson defended his position, stating that Republicans have been working on election integrity for nearly four years since the 2020 election. He praised Republican-led states and governors for their efforts while criticizing some Democrats for not prioritizing the issue.
Despite his concerns, Johnson concluded the interview on a somewhat optimistic note. He stated:
"In spite of all that, I think it's going to be too big to rig. I think we're going to have a free and fair and legal election across the board. I certainly hope and pray that's true. And I think every member of Congress joins in that- that- that hope and concern."
Johnson's statements on Face the Nation highlight the ongoing debate about election security and voter fraud. While he expresses confidence in the overall integrity of the upcoming election, his comments about potential cheating and non-citizen voting have added fuel to an already heated political discourse. As the 2024 election approaches, discussions about election integrity and security measures are likely to remain at the forefront of political debates.
