‘i Run The Protection Program’: Mike Johnson Warns Roomful Of Conservatives To Reelect Republicans Or Face Prison

House Speaker Mike Johnson told a edifice convention roomful of Christian conservatives that he was nan only point stopping Democrats from investigating not conscionable President Donald Trump, but each of his friends and family members — and galore of them, too.

Johnson said connected Friday to nan Faith and Freedom Coalition’s yearly summit, a gathering of belief conservatives, where Trump besides said later successful nan day. Most polling shows Democrats have a bully chance of winning backmost nan House of Representatives, but Johnson warned of nan consequences for specified a Republican defeat.

He warned that while Trump will not beryllium connected nan ballot again, his early mightiness be, on pinch their own.

“Y’all, impeachment’s not moreover nan large concern,” nan House speaker said. “They will move each committee of Congress into an investigative body, and they'll spell aft nan president's family, nan cabinet, his donors and friends.

“Half of you successful this room will beryllium targeted. I tally nan protection program. I’ll return attraction of you.”

The House impeached Trump doubly during his first word arsenic president aft Democrats won backmost power of nan little enclosure successful 2018. First, he was impeached successful 2019 owed to him attempting to withhold weapons from Ukraine to unit President Volodymyr Zelensky to analyse then-candidate Joe Biden’s boy Hunter.

Trump would look a 2nd impeachment for his actions connected Jan. 6, 2021 connected charges he incited nan riot astatine nan U.S. Capitol wherever supporters of nan president raided nan building and fought pinch constabulary officers successful an effort to overturn nan 2020 statesmanlike predetermination results.

The president has many times said, falsely, that he won nan 2020 predetermination and Johnson led nan complaint to thief overturn nan 2020 statesmanlike predetermination results. Even aft nan riot, he voted to entity to nan 2020 statesmanlike predetermination results.

When he returned to office, Trump pardoned defendants convicted for their actions connected Jan. 6, which he had pledged to do. In addition, Trump faced disapproval erstwhile Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced nan creation of an almost $1.8 cardinal “anti-weaponization” money to financially compensate group nan Trump management said were unfairly targeted by nan Biden administration.

Republicans clasp only 218 seats successful nan House of Representatives compared to Democrats’ 212 acknowledgment to fistful of resignations and deaths.

Johnson Trump and Republicans person taken bonzer measures to effort and forestall Democrats from winning backmost nan House. Last year, Texas Republicans convened a typical convention astatine Trump’s behest to redraw nan state’s legislature maps to create 5 caller Republican-leaning districts. Republicans made akin efforts successful Missouri, though efforts to redraw legislature maps successful Indiana failed.

Democrats responded successful kind. Last year, California passed a ballot inaugural to let for nan creation of 5 Democratic-leaning districts. Virginia attempted a akin measure, but nan state’s ultimate tribunal yet killed nan the effort.

But Democrats responded cheekily to Johnson’s threat.

“We are nan Homeland Security Committee Democrats and we o.k. this message,” nan House Homeland Security Committee Democrats’ X relationship posted.