Brennan Challenges Johnson
In a lively exchange on CBS's Face the Nation, new House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) clashed with host Margaret Brennan over voter integrity and non-citizen voting. Johnson, determined to push the narrative of election vulnerabilities, claimed there could be instances of illegal voting by non-citizens in upcoming elections.
He acknowledged it’s illegal for non-citizens to vote but quickly pointed out the issue: “There’s a number of states that are not requiring proof of citizenship when non-citizens register to vote. We know that’s happening.”
Brennan quickly stepped in, reminding viewers that it’s against the law for non-citizens to vote. But Johnson wasn’t backing down. He pointed to a recent legal battle in Virginia, where Governor Glenn Youngkin’s executive order aimed at cleaning up voter rolls ahead of the election was challenged by the Biden administration.
Johnson framed this action as further evidence that Democratic leadership is undermining voter confidence by preventing states from enforcing stricter voter registration measures. He asked, "Why would they do that?"—a question intended to plant doubt in viewers' minds about the Biden-Harris administration's motives.
Johnson’s frustration with Brennan’s pushback was clear when he responded to her accusation that he was undermining confidence in state elections. “It’s not me undermining it,” Johnson said. “It’s the actions of the Biden-Harris administration and some of these states.”
For Johnson, the issue goes beyond mere political posturing—he sees it as a fundamental concern about election security. He pointed out that the SAVE Act, passed by the Republican-led House, would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, but was blocked by Senate Democrats, including Chuck Schumer.
Johnson insinuated that Democrats were intentionally allowing non-citizens to vote, implying that the open border policies might have been part of a broader strategy to sway elections.
The crux of Johnson’s argument is a deep mistrust of current election processes, particularly around citizenship verification. Brennan, however, stood firm, continuing to highlight that non-citizen voting is illegal and insisting there’s no proof of widespread illegal voting.
Johnson, ever the politician, saw this as a failure to acknowledge what he believes are real vulnerabilities in the system—vulnerabilities that he argues Democrats are refusing to address.