Schiff ‘flabbergasted’ at Johnson appearance outside Trump courthouse

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) criticized House Republicans for appearing with a lust for power when House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared in former President Trump’s hush-money trial in New York this week. He said he was surprised.

Schiff was asked Thursday night by MSNBC’s Alex Wagner for his thoughts on the group of Republican lawmakers who traveled to Manhattan to support the former president as he sits in court.

“I have a lot of thoughts, so let me start with the speaker, because he went on a pilgrimage and stood outside that courthouse and lied about what was going on inside the building. I must say I was really surprised.” Schiff said.

“It’s bad enough that he lacks self-respect to have to kiss the ring in such a public and despicable way, but it’s also bad enough that he slanders the justice system and deliberately makes false claims about this. It’s also bad to do that.”The trial was designed to keep Mr. Trump out of campaign court, but he knows there’s more to it than that,” Schiff continued.

Mr Johnson’s appearance in court on Tuesday sparked controversy in the House of Commons. In an interview Wednesday, the speaker called Trump’s trial an “atrocity” and defended his own actions.

Many other House Republicans, several senators and even former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy appeared in support of the Republican presidential candidate, arguing that the trial was hampering Trump’s campaign. . The court case has forced President Trump to remain in New York for most of this week, preventing him from campaigning across the country.

Mr. Schiff was asked about his recent vote to save Mr. Johnson from expulsion from his own party. He said he did not regret voting for Mr Johnson to remain.

Democrats said they voted for two reasons. One is that the House needs leaders to get things done. Second, he said he didn’t think it was right to fire him for supporting Ukraine.

“For both reasons, I have no regrets. But I have to say, when I stand in front of the courthouse and see what he did, it still hurts,” Schiff said. Told.

He went a step further and said there is no one in the House Republican conference with a “real commitment” to the Constitution or the judicial system.

“The important thing is to stay in power, to gain power, and not to degrade yourself too badly in front of the supreme leader,” Schiff said.