Sen. Rand Paul said House Speaker Mike Johnson has “completely changed” his conservative principles since he picked up a gavel and tore him apart over his recent support for government surveillance programs.
Paul (R-Ky.), who has rarely criticized Johnson, criticized him in an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” and questioned whether Johnson was any different from a Democrat. suggested.
“You have to be strong in your beliefs. He was seen as a conservative before he came to the lecture,” Paul said. “He has completely changed and lost all principles that Americans should not be spied on without a warrant.”
“Johnson is not holding his ground. He has the power. He has the majority. Use the power of your wallet, Chairman Johnson. But so far, I don’t see much of a difference.”
Last week, Johnson provoked hardliners in the Republican Party by debating a bill in the House of Representatives that would reauthorize warrantless surveillance powers under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for an additional two years.
Paul has long been an enemy of numerous federal surveillance programs. The Section 702 authorization was scheduled to expire on April 19th.
Asked whether he should trust the government’s surveillance powers, Paul said: “Absolutely not.” “Americans should not be spied on by their government.
“The Fourth Amendment was enacted by the Founding Fathers to protect us. FISA does not comply with the Fourth Amendment,” he added. “Chairman Johnson was incredibly wrong.”
Section 702 empower the government Conduct targeted surveillance of foreign nationals believed to be outside the United States.
Mr. Johnson’s actions have emboldened his right-wing opponents, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who last month floated a motion to vacate the speakership, or expel Mr. Johnson.
Greene has not ruled out calling for a vote on her resignation. She met with Johnson last week.
Paul also criticized the speaker for the spending deal he brokered with Democrats that passed Congress last month to fund the government for fiscal year 2024.
“Democrats got everything they wanted.[ed] We’re spending too much,” Paul complained.
Republicans maintain a majority in the House of Representatives. After Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) resigns on Friday, that gap is expected to narrow to 217 seats, compared to 213 for Democrats.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to face resistance from the right over his decision to provide aid to war-torn Ukraine. The Senate previously passed a $95 billion supplemental budget that includes about $60 billion for Ukraine and additional funding for Israel.
Mr. Paul notified Mr. Johnson about the funding for Israel and urged him to “stick to his guns” and force Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to consider legislation that does not add to the debt.
“What I want to say to Chairman Johnson is, be persistent. For goodwill, show some cohons and show some gut strength,” Paul scolded.
House Republicans Previously handed out a standalone aid package Offsetting expenses to Israel. Democrats are demanding that aid to Israel be combined with aid to Ukraine.
The Kentucky Republican also slammed his colleague, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who recently announced plans to resign as Senate Republican leader.
Mr. McConnell recently said that one of his goals for the remainder of his term is to push back against isolationist forces within the Republican Party.
“At this point, it could be anyone, because he has now decided that Ukraine and the money he has to borrow, including the border, are more important than anything else,” Paul said.
The newspaper has contacted Johnson’s office for comment.
Paul’s comments were the latest in an ongoing threat of insurrection looming over Johnson amid Republican standoffs over spending, FISA and aid to Ukraine.
So far, eight Republicans have joined forces with Democrats to oust Johnson’s predecessor, Kevin McCarthy.
