BREAKING: Mike Johnson refuses to defund Biden's Trump prosecutor Jack Smith

House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to defund Biden's Department of Justice appointed special counsel Jack Smith, who has undertaken two criminal prosecutions of Biden's chief political opponent former President Donald Trump. Both cases are on hold somewhat indefinitely, one after the judge vacated the trial date and another awaiting a ruling on an immunity motion from the Supreme Court.

Rep. Marjorie Talyor Greene had asked Johnson to defund the special counsel prior to bringing a motion to vacate the speaker's chair, but Johnson would not agree to do so, Politico reports. Greene asked that the funding be removed in an upcoming appropriations package. 

"That’s not something you wave a wand and just eliminate the special counsel as a provision," said Johnson, a former constitutional lawyer.

"There is a necessity for a function like that, because sometimes the Department of Justice — which is an executive branch agency — can’t necessarily, without a conflict of interest, investigate or prosecute the president who’s their boss, or the president’s family," Johnson added. He was surprised that Greene actually brought the motion forward after they spoke. 

The outlet reported that the House Speaker is looking at other ways to go after Smith. A person close with Johnson made a call to the outlet a few minutes after Politico reporters reached out to former President Trump to get his thoughts on Johnson not taking away the funding from Smith. 

When Greene got wind of the report, she posted, "Mike Johnson when asked if he will stop the witch hunt that aims to throw President Trump in jail FOR LIFE!"

In another post, Greene wrote, "I triggered my Motion to Vacate yesterday because Mike Johnson refused to commit to defunding Special Council Jack Smith. Now, he’s not just saying he won’t defund it, he’s promising to PROTECT it."