Mike Johnson: "We don't have an absolute guarantee this will be fixed in the Senate. I have a high degree of confidence in that, and that is why I'll be voting yes today."
RAJU: Last week you were very critical of Biden's use of the autopen. But Trump admitted on 60 Minutes to not knowing he pardoned a crypto billionaire who pleaded guilty to money laundering. Does that also concern you?
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't know anything about that. I didn't see it. I'm not sure.
Q: Are you aligned with the president on ending the filibuster?
MIKE JOHNSON: I've been a little busy as you know. We haven't spoken since he returned.
Q: Just last week a minister was shot directly in the face with a pepper round by a DHS agent that left his face bloodied. Are you concerned that this is a religious freedom issue?
MIKE JOHNSON: I can't comment on any of those instances. I haven't seen or heard any of those videos
Q: What's your reaction to yesterday's purge of senior ICE officials? When is it time for Congress to do some oversight?
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't know any of the details of that yet. I just heard about that, literally I was walking in.
Q: How comfortable are you w/Trump seeking $230m from the DOJ?
MIKE JOHNSON: Uh, I don't know the details. I just read it. I know he believes he's owed that reimbursement. What I heard is that if receives it, he's gonna consider giving it to charity. They attack him for everything. *changes topic*
Q: Some of your Republican colleagues have raised concerns about Trump opening up the market to Argentinian beef. What are you doing to help American beef farmers?
MIKE JOHNSON: We had some discussion on that yesterday. I don't know the latest developments.
Q: Getting back to the Jeffries threat, this is one of a number of J6 pardons that's been rearrested. Did Trump make a mistake?
JOHNSON: I don't know any of the details. I'll tell you the violence on the left is far more prevalent than on the right. The rhetoric that you saw Saturday plays into it
Q: A pardoned January 6 rioter was charged with threatening to kill Hakeem Jeffries
MIKE JOHNSON: Terrible. That's the first I've heard of that. I don't know anything about it.
Q: What is your reaction to Marjorie Taylor Greene saying this is a serious situation with regard to Cory Mills?
MIKE JOHNSON: I try not to react to what Marjorie Taylor Greene says every day. I don't know what she's talking about.
Q: What's your message to the 170 US citizens who have been detained by ICE? About 20 of them are children
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't know what you're talking about with the children. I haven't seen that so I'm not going to comment on it.
Johnson: "Grijalva should be working for her constituents right now. I don't know what she's doing. I keep seeing their political stunt videos. She should be in her office. She should be working or in the district for her constituents" (Grijalva is not in fact a Rep. b/c Johnson refuses to seat her)
Q: Are you worried about extremist pro-Hitler sentiment among young Republicans?
JOHNSON: No. I don't know who any of these people are. I've never heard of them. Somebody posted a photo of me standing next to these guys wearing tuxedos. It was at the inauguration, people were coming up for selfies
Q: This has been reported for a while. Cory Mills was accused of beating a girlfriend in his DC apt. Are you concerned about these allegations?
JOHNSON: You have to ask Rep. Mills about that. He's been a faithful colleague. I don't know the details. Let's talk about things that are really serious
Q: A judge in Florida issued a restraining order against Cory Mills for threatening and harassing his ex-girlfriend. Do you think this is an ethical violation?
MIKE JOHNSON: I have not heard or looked into the details of that. I've been a little busy.
REPORTER: We know the president moved forward with mass layoffs. We're also learning there were significant cuts to staff at special education services. Are you comfortable with those cuts?
MIKE JOHNSON: I haven't seen the specifics of that and I don't know
Johnson: "It's true that in previous shutdowns, many or most furloughed employees have been paid for the time they were furloughed, but there is new legal analysis - I don't know the details, I just saw a headline - but there are some legal analysts saying that might not be appropriate or necessary"
BASH: Are you okay w/ the military using American cities as 'training grounds'?
JOHNSON: I don't know what's being implied by that
B: It suggests troops are going to be in cities & use them military training
J: That's been very beneficial for the Guard
B: So it's ok?
J: It's a win-win scenario
REPORTER: Will you commit to include California in any disaster aid package?
MIKE JOHNSON: We've not seen the formal disaster relief request from California yet
REPORTER: The formal request was sent to your office in February
KARL: Do you know what he's talking about with the Epstein files? And why haven't those files been released?
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't know. That's not my lane. We have no concern about President Trump of his involvement or any of that.
TAPPER: I have a hard time thinking that if a D president held a dinner for investors in his cryptocurrency, you wouldn't be outraged
MIKE JOHNSON: Look, I don't know anything about the dinner. I was a little busy this past week, so I'm not going to comment on something I haven't even heard about