House Republicans Faceplant in Awkward Impeachment Press Conference

House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, publicly faceplanted in a press conference intended to save face with Americans about the impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

Johnson was joined by Republican third-in-command Elise Stefanik and the three chairmen of the committees leading the impeachment inquiry—James Comer (House Oversight), Jim Jordan (House Judiciary), and Jason Smith (House Ways and Means).

Before introducing the others, Stefanik took to the podium to mischaracterize the impeachment inquiry’s spirit: “House Republicans have worked tirelessly on behalf of the American people for months to deliver transparency, following the money and the facts to uncover what I believe will prove to be one of the largest political corruption scandals of our lifetime and, potentially, in our nation’s history.”

After Comer, Jordan, and Smith spoke, Mike Johnson took to the podium and offered unconvincing platitudes.

He tried to assure the audience that Republicans “are the rule of law team” and that the investigators “are doing this thoroughly, carefully, methodically.”

Johnson concluded his initial remarks by declaring that Republicans “are not prejudging” the investigation and “will follow the facts wherever they lead”—contradicting his lieutenant Stefanik’s earlier remarks.

The Speaker then took a few questions from reporters. The last one asked Johnson if he intends to ignore the sworn testimony of witnesses from one of Donald Trump’s impeachments—who had refuted major Republican claims now at the center of their impeachment inquiry into Biden—or if he will accuse them of perjury.

Johnson visibly grimaced, replied “no one is ignoring testimony,” and then proceeded to ignore the reporter’s question by deflecting to written “bullet points” about other matters.

It was merely the latest embarrassing display for a party which has been consistently embarrassed on this particular topic.