Embattled House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is solidly in the camp of those — including President Joe Biden’s White House — who seek open-ended funding of Ukraine. Now it has been revealed that his top policy advisor previously worked for companies with a clear interest in the country’s war with Russia.
Speaker Mike Johnson flipped his position on Ukraine aid entirely after a meeting with the White House on February 28th.
He owes America an honest explanation as to why he flipped.
He broke his promise to us.
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) April 18, 2024
Dan Ziegler previously was a lobbyist on behalf of several powerful clients. His work for Williams & Jensen included representing Amgen, Eli Lilly & Co., Visa, Vanguard Group, Pfizer, Sanofi and Merck.
All are on the record supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia, and several severely cut back or severed all financial ties with Moscow.
This may explain Speaker Johnson’s U-turn on stand alone Ukraine war funding.
Dan Ziegler,his policy chief previously lobbied for corporations with a clear interest in the Ukraine war.
Speaker Johnson is clearly conflicted !!!!https://t.co/dMeQBtRRdV— MACK ULTRA_5x5 (@Peter2404451985) April 18, 2024
Johnson sat for an interview with Newsmax on Thursday and reiterated his support for billions more in taxpayer funding for Ukraine. He told “The Record With Greta Van Susteren” that Republican lawmakers rewrote the foreign aid supplemental bill for Kyiv.
He said the new version adds responsibility for the Ukraine government and is reconstituted as a loan. Johnson credited former President Donald Trump with formulating this idea.
The Speaker said his wish is to assist Ukraine in its defense against Russia until Trump wins in November.
However, he stopped far short of endorsing U.S. troops being deployed to the volatile region. “I’d rather send bullets to Ukraine than American boys. We don’t want to have boots on the ground.”
Johnson expressed his belief that if Trump wins in his rematch with Biden that he will be able to broker a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.
He said that the trick is to support Ukraine long enough for that to happen.
As he faced dissension from conservative House members who feel he is too cozy with Biden, Johnson explained the breakdown of the contentious bill. The Republican proposal earmarked $95.3 billion for Israel, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific.
Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, and Hakeem Jeffries (The Firm ™️) have engineered this #AmericaLast bill process to get their precious Ukraine aid through the House no matter the cost.
Here's how 📷
— House Freedom Caucus (@freedomcaucus) April 17, 2024
There is another bill included that targets seized assets owned by Russian oligarchs.
Johnson said the measure would use these funds to supplement Ukraine’s defense.
He further promised more oversight in foreign aid, something that critics charge has been sorely lacking as tens of billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars are funneled overseas.
