Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson: “Weaponized” DOJ weakens people’s faith in US institutions

08/10/2022 / By Ramon Tomey

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) denounced the “weaponized” Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Biden administration, saying that the agency’s persecution of political opponents weakens people’s faith in government institutions.

Back in July, the Louisiana congressman said the American justice system is “a bulwark against tyranny” during an interview at an America First Policy Institute (AFPI) event.

“But if the DOJ, for example, is weaponized for political purposes – which is what we’re seeing right now in the Biden administration – that jeopardizes that foundational pillar [of the American republic] itself.”

Later, Johnson reiterated this idea during an interview with the Epoch Times. He told the outlet that the DOJ’s weaponization is attacking the foundational pillars upon which America was built. The department’s actions also undermine American citizens’ faith in the nation’s institutions, added the lawmaker.

“What’s happened is the legislative branch has had its constitutional authority usurped by the other branches.”

“You’ve had activist judges for decades that had been advancing public policy from the bench. You’ve had an executive branch that is willingly taking the power away from Congress, because some members, I suppose, didn’t want to take tough votes on tough issues.”

Johnson, who is a member of the House Judiciary Committee that oversees the DOJ, condemned several instances of the Biden administration weaponizing federal institutions and procedures. He cited the Justice Department’s targeting of parents opposing critical race theory at school board meetings, the attempted impeachment of former President Donald Trump and the House Jan. 6 Select Committee hearings as examples of this weaponization.

The Louisiana congressman added that the Federal Bureau of Investigation raiding Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate on Aug. 8 evoked memories of what he saw during the former president’s 2019 impeachment. Trump was cleared of the charges against him in February 2020. (Related: The FBI now functions entirely as a weapon against Republicans while protecting the high crimes of Democrats.)

Johnson: Dems seek to erode the American republic and replace it with socialism

During the July AFPI event, Johnson remarked that the DOJ’s weaponization is overshadowed by “two different philosophies [in a] battle of worldviews.” While the Republican Party believes in America’s founding principles, the Democratic Party has “a very different vision for the country.”

“[Democrats] have disdain for the founding principles that we all believe in,” he told attendees of the event. “They’re trying to trade it for something else: A European-style socialist [and] utopian dream – which is folly, of course.”

Heritage Foundation conservative scholar Richard Reinsch echoed the Louisiana representative’s observation in a May 11 commentary. According to Reinsch, rulemaking in the current time takes place in “the regulatory or administrative state.” Magistrates who preside over litigation between the government and private entities are themselves part of the establishment agency “whose rules are in dispute,” he added.

“Legislation, enforcement and adjudication are exercised by the same set of hands. Publius called this tyranny, and one of the objectives of the 1787 Constitution was to eliminate it,” wrote Reinsch. Publius was the pen name of New York Post founder and Founding Father Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist Papers.

Still, there’s hope. Johnson said the Supreme Court is starting to recognize the importance of limiting the power of government agencies. This, he added, was a “very important” trend that is moving the U.S. closer to the “original design of the Republic” the Founding Fathers envisioned.

For his part as a lawmaker, Johnson emphasized the importance of his role in the House committee he is in. “One of the responsibilities we have in Congress is oversight, [and also] in the next Congress as well. We have to work on first, de-politicizing the DOJ. It’s been completely weaponized under this administration.”

Watch Rep. Mike Johnson talk about the federal government targeting Trump supporters in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol siege.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.