House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) feuded with ABC News’s Jon Karl on Sunday over President Donald Trump‘s recent commutation of former GOP Rep. George Santos‘s prison sentence as well as the Pentagon’s new press policies.
Regarding Santos, Johnson said “redemption” is a “personal belief” of his, and expressed hope that Santos “makes the most of his second chance.” Karl noted how Santos is one of many former congressmen to either be pardoned or receive clemency, prompting Johnson to point to former President Joe Biden’s mass pardons and commutations.
“He pardoned his own family. The only thing he signed, by the way, with his own pen. Everything else is autopen, but categories of hardened criminals that they just released from prison. At least President Trump is fully transparent,” Johnson said on This Week.
Karl pressed Johnson on Trump’s statement announcing the commutation, specifically when the president said “at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN.” Johnson denied this is why Trump commuted Santos’s sentence, and this comment is only “one snippet” among many Trump has made about the ex-lawmaker.
Santos said on Sunday he is “very grateful” for the commutation, and expressed interest in getting involved with prison reform. He said this would be “a great road to follow” going forward.
Johnson also addressed War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new press policies at the Pentagon, which the Washington Examiner and multiple other news outlets have declined to sign. Johnson rejected Karl’s suggestion that Hegseth is afraid to answer questions from the press, though Karl noted Hegseth has only had two briefings as war secretary.
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Johnson shot back by saying Hegseth is “very transparent,” pointing to his public speeches, which have included addressing a large gathering of military leaders at Quantico.
Karl concluded the back-and-forth by pointing out that those large-scale events shield Hegseth from reporters.
