Rand Paul ‘Not So Sure There’s a Difference’ Between Speaker Johnson and Democrats: ‘Completely Changed’

Sen. Rand Paul said House Speaker Mike Johnson has “completely changed” his conservative principles since taking the gavel and ripped the speaker over his recent backing of a government surveillance program.

Paul (R-Ky.) — who has rarely criticized Johnson — excoriated the speaker during an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” suggesting he may be no different than the Democrats.

“People have to be strong in their convictions. He was seen as a conservative before he came to the speakership,” Paul said. “He’s completely changed and lost all his principles on the idea that we shouldn’t spy on Americans without a warrant.”

“Johnson hasn’t held his ground. He has power. He has a majority. Use the power of the purse, Speaker Johnson. Do something to make us think you are different than the Democrats, but so far, I don’t see a lot of difference.”

Last week, Johnson rankled hardliners within the Republican Party by wrangling legislation through the House of Representatives to reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Section 702 warrantless surveillance authority for two more years. (Read more from “Rand Paul ‘Not So Sure There’s a Difference’ Between Speaker Johnson and Democrats: ‘Completely Changed’” HERE)

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