House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) responded on Sunday to a report by The Daily Beast that highlighted his apparent lack of a bank account on his financial disclosure.
The response, however, did not actually answer whether he had one.
Fox News Sunday moderator Shannon Bream pressed Johnson on whether he had a bank account, citing a Vanity Fair write-up of The Daily Beast’s report and noting that “there’s been so much made about it.”
“Can you clear that up for us?” Bream asked.
Johnson did not.
“Look, I’m a man of modest means,” Johnson said. “I was a lawyer, but I did constitutional law, and most of my career has been in the nonprofit sector. We have four kids, five now, that are very active. And I have kids in graduate school, law school, undergraduate. We have a lot of expenses, but I can relate to everybody else. My father was a firefighter, right? I didn’t grow up with great means. But I think that helps us to be a better leader because we can relate to every hard-working American family. That’s who we are. And I think it governs and helps govern my decisions and how I lead.”
I’m not really sure why this matters. Is really just about him not disclosing something? Because I really don’t care if he has a bank account it not.
This seems like a distraction from real issues.
How does he get paid? How does he pay bills? Do you not think this is strange?
It may be strange. So what?
Cant follow the money to see who owns him if there are no accounts. For any adult with a roof over their head, to not have at least one bank account is very odd, and for a politician, very sus.
Plus, even if he really doesn’t have an account, then that’s worrisome as well because if you’re struggling to pay for your kids tuition, that raises concerns about being more susceptible to bribery. That’s why one of the things they look into when you get clearance is are you struggling financially.
Can’t see the bank account without some sort of legal action. Not sure what you’re imagining but that seems like a silly line of thought. Do you really think every financial move a person makes goes through their bank account? If anyone is stupid enough to put payoffs or other ill gotten gains in a bank account along with their “normal” money then they’re amazingly stupid. I would find it VERY hard to believe that anyone would do that.
It may be odd, but I don’t find it relevant. He can hide money under his mattress if he wants, I really don’t care.
This is a distraction from any real issues. If people want to “take him on” then do so on the issues he will deal with as a member of the house.
I find this whole “let’s gettem” approach to politics a BIG distraction from real debate on real issues. Not to say that we should allow politicians to do whatever they want but let the investigators do that. So the media spend their time with BS like this instead of asking the real questions on real issues. The public debate is not engaged for the sake of a non-existent bank account.
He’s a US Representative. He was asked under oath to disclose it under penalty of perjury. He committed a felony. What the hell is wrong with you?
So his very likely lying on his financial disclosure is not an issue we need to concern ourselves with. Got it.
I think the point is uts REALLY strange, and might be indicative of problems/concerns that actually matter.
Well that’s a naive take.
You don’t care if the Republican Speaker of the House is taking bribes. Okay.
Guilty until proven innocent, right?
Where do you buy your pitchforks and torches?
No, he’s proven guilty for failing to properly disclose his finances as required by law.
The people are allowed to ask questions of and demand explanations from our elected representatives. He works for us and we want answers. Who the fuck are you to even imply otherwise? WTF is wrong with you?!
This isn’t a court of law. Is that the burden you live by when hiring a nanny for your kids? That literally anyone who isn’t convinced of a crime is perfectly fine to watch your kids?
Blatant in your face corruption in the House isn’t a real issue? Umm, ok then.
Not disclosing a bank account is worth interrogating because it indicates that he is trying to hide whatever is or isn’t in that account. He could be accepting cash that would impair his ability to fairly legislate (e.g. a bribe) OR he could be in a bad financial situation, making that an obvious target for bad actors to influence him.
How does this guy have a security clearance?