Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) dropped a pointed reminder on CNN’s "State of the Union" that even former FBI directors aren’t above the law. His comments cut straight to a lingering frustration about accountability at the highest levels.
According to Breitbart, Johnson highlighted that James Comey, the former FBI head, had a laundry list of potential charges that could have been pursued. While time has run out on prosecuting many of those issues due to statutes of limitations, Johnson stressed that perjury remains a grave concern, especially for someone who once held such a powerful position.
Johnson didn’t mince words, stating, “It’s a very important principle for us to apply that everybody has to subscribe to the law, even a former FBI director, and he has lots to answer for.” If a high-ranking official can raise their hand, swear an oath, and then deceive Congress, what’s left of trust in our institutions? The implication here is clear: no one should get a pass, no matter their title.
Host Jake Tapper pressed Johnson on whether President Trump’s public calls for action against Comey and others, shared openly on Truth Social, crossed a line. Tapper pointed to Trump’s frustration over perceived inaction against political figures like Comey, Adam Schiff, and Letitia James, even after pushing out a U.S. attorney.
Johnson pushed back, rejecting the idea that Trump was directing the attorney general to target specific opponents. He argued, “I don’t think that’s what he did,” redirecting the focus to a broader issue of fairness and balance in how justice is applied.
The real problem, as Johnson sees it, isn’t a president demanding accountability, but the precedent of unchecked power within agencies like the DOJ. If leaders like Comey can escape scrutiny for years, it sets a dangerous standard for everyone else down the line.
Johnson turned the conversation to what he called the “total and utter weaponization” of the Department of Justice, with Comey as a key figure in that troubling trend. He didn’t hold back in pinning much of the blame on how the system was turned against one individual during the last administration.
For four years, Johnson argued, the judicial apparatus was aimed squarely at Donald Trump, an effort he sees as orchestrated with intent. Comey, in his view, played a central role in setting that machinery in motion, raising questions about bias at the core of federal power.
This isn’t just about one man’s grievances; it’s about whether the system can be trusted to act without favoritism. When the scales of justice tilt so heavily in one direction, public confidence erodes, and that’s a loss for every American.
The Speaker’s remarks underscore a broader demand for equal treatment under the law, no matter how lofty someone’s former position. If perjury and other missteps go unaddressed simply because time has passed, it sends a signal that some are untouchable.
Johnson’s focus on Comey isn’t personal; it’s principled, rooted in the idea that oaths to Congress must mean something. Letting high officials slide on such matters only deepens the swamp of distrust that so many feel toward Washington.
This isn’t about vendettas or political score-settling, despite what critics might claim. It’s about ensuring that the rules apply to everyone, from the average citizen to the once-mighty director of the FBI.
In the end, Johnson’s comments on CNN reflect a deep-seated concern that the justice system has been played like a political tool for too long. Restoring faith means holding even the most powerful to account, no exceptions.
While some will see this as a partisan jab, the core issue transcends party lines: can Americans trust that their institutions operate with integrity? If figures like Comey evade consequences, that trust remains a distant hope.
The path forward isn’t easy, but it starts with acknowledging past failures and demanding better. Johnson’s words serve as a reminder that accountability isn’t optional, it’s the bedrock of a functioning republic.
