The Role of Rep. Mike Johnson in Supporting Trump's Election Challenges

Years before becoming House speaker, Republican Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana was actively involved in supporting Donald Trump's attempts to challenge the results of the 2020 election.

This Friday, Johnson will be speaking alongside the former president on the topic of "election integrity," a term frequently used by Trump to promote the false claim that the 2020 election was manipulated and to raise unfounded fears about potential voter fraud in the future.

Johnson played a significant role following the 2020 election, supporting Trump's efforts to challenge the election results. While his actions were mostly behind-the-scenes or limited to his Louisiana district, other prominent pro-Trump figures received more attention in the post-election period.

Similar to many Republicans, he raised doubts about the legitimacy of Joe Biden's win and expressed concerns about the increase in mail-in voting due to the Covid-19 pandemic. These concerns mirrored common GOP complaints about mail-in voting, despite the fact that election fraud in the US is extremely rare.

He also supported a conspiracy theory claiming that two voting technology companies, Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems, switched millions of votes from Trump to Biden as part of a global scheme.

Senator Johnson stated in November 2020 that there was credibility to the accusations against these voting machines, suggesting that Dominion rigged them with software. He also raised concerns about a software system used nationwide, which he believed was suspicious because it originated from Hugo Chávez's Venezuela.

These claims were proven to be false. Dominion and Smartmatic filed defamation lawsuits against several pro-Trump media outlets and personalities who spread the misinformation. Fox News reached a settlement with Dominion for over $787 million, although Johnson was not sued.

Johnson alleged that the election in Georgia was rigged, stating that the system allowed for widespread fraud. However, Republican officials oversaw three statewide recounts that confirmed Biden's narrow win and found no evidence of systematic irregularities.

He managed to persuade most House Republicans to support a lawsuit backed by Trump. The lawsuit aimed to challenge the results in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin, states that Trump lost. However, the Supreme Court quickly dismissed the case.

In the legal document submitted by Johnson and 125 other House Republicans, they argued that "unconstitutional irregularities in the 2020 presidential election raise concerns about the election's outcome and the American electoral system's integrity."

Shortly after the violence of January 6, 2021, had been brought under control, Senator Johnson supported the Republican objection to the Democratic electors from Arizona and Pennsylvania. This objection aimed to take away 36 electoral votes that President Biden had rightfully earned.

During his speech on the House floor, just hours after the chaotic armed conflict between law enforcement and the pro-Trump mob, Johnson falsely claimed that judges had overstepped their authority by changing voting rules in 2020. However, in reality, the Supreme Court later confirmed that judges do have the authority to review state election laws.

The longshot bid to nullify the results from Arizona and Pennsylvania, which would’ve disenfranchised 10.3 million voters, was defeated by a bipartisan majority of lawmakers.

Editor's P/S:

The article paints a disturbing picture of Republican Rep. Mike Johnson's relentless efforts to undermine the 2020 election. His actions, driven by unfounded claims of voter fraud and conspiracy theories, cast a shadow over the integrity of our democratic process. Despite the lack of evidence, Johnson and other pro-Trump figures propagated misinformation and baseless accusations, fueling distrust and division among the American public.

Johnson's support for Trump's attempts to overturn the election results, including his participation in the lawsuit and his objection to the electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania, is particularly concerning. His actions show a disregard for the rule of law and the will of the people. The fact that he continues to promote election integrity while perpetuating unfounded claims further undermines public confidence in our electoral system. It is imperative that we hold those responsible for these attacks on our democracy accountable and work to restore trust in our electoral processes.