Mike Johnson’s Russian Funder
Favors?
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson received illegal money from at least one Russian oligarch. There could be more.
Let’s take a closer look.👇
Mike Johnson is blocking the Ukraine bill
Despite the Pentagon’s urging that the $60 billion Ukraine aid package is critically important to Kyiv’s chances of successfully resisting Putin’s invasion, it is currently gathering dust on Mike Johnson’s desk.
The new Speaker continues to thwart Ukraine aid, despite strong bipartisan criticism:
After an “intense” Oval Office meeting, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris each pressed Johnson to prioritize aid for Ukraine.
Today Radoslaw Sikorski, the foreign minister of Poland, also issued a stern warning to Johnson, making it clear that if the aid package fails to pass, and Ukraine suffers setbacks on the battlefield, the blame would fall on Johnson.
Deputy press secretary Andrew Bates stated, “Speaker Johnson is siding with Putin.”
Why?
Follow the money
In 2018, Johnson received campaign contributions from “American Ethane” company, 88% of which was owned by three Russian nationals: Konstantin Nikolaev, Mikhail Yuriev, and Andrey Kunatbaev.
Johnson received at least three checks from the company. Why does that matter?
At least one of the Russian partners, oligarch Nikolaev, had deep ties to Putin.
The sordid tale about the group of Russian nationals who circumvented U.S. political fundraising laws in order to deliver campaign contributions to a slate of MAGA-entrenched Congressmen somehow failed to attract the attention of the corporate media.
Johnson’s campaign claims the money was returned after the facts were first revealed. But why did he take it in the first place?
In 2018, while Donald was still in the White House, his FCC fined American Ethane for donating to GOP candidates — a grand total of $9,500 in civil penalties... That’ll show ‘em.
Time for a closer look at Nikolaev’s motivations:
Nikolaev’s Financial ties to Russian Forces
In 2019, the oligarch's net worth was estimated at $1.2 billion according to Forbes.
Further, reports indicate Nikolaev funded Russian national Maria Butina, who was deported back to Russia after spending 15 months in U.S. penitentiaries for acting as a Russian foreign agent, cozying up to Republicans in order to shape U.S. policy.
In addition to being part owner of Globaltrans, which according to Newsweek is Russia's largest private rail operation, Nikolaev is also part owner of the Tula Cartridge Plant, a company “which has been supplying ammunition to Russian forces during its invasion of Ukraine.”
What a remarkable coincidence.
Does it matter if Johnson has Russian ties?
As Speaker of the House, Johnson faces one of the largest foreign policy decisions of the last decade: whether the Republican-controlled House of Representatives allow the United States to continue funding Ukraine.
Because of Johnson’s refusal to fund our ally thus far, Ukraine’s ability to achieve victory over our shared enemy now hangs in the balance.
Mike Johnson’s record – from voting against the 2022 Ukraine Supplemental Appropriation bill, to supporting the prohibition of all security assistance to Ukraine – makes it look as if he works for Putin, instead of the American people and their national security interests.
The media should be asking more questions.
In addition to the illegal campaign contributions, what are Johnson’s ties to Russian oligarchs?
Why is he so determined to help Russia, to the point that he is willing to risk letting Ukraine fall to Russian aggression?
Why is the Speaker of The House of Representatives of the United States of America representing the interests of Donald and Vladimir Putin?
What really motivates Mike Johnson?
He currently sits second in line to the presidency, and yet the religious fanaticism that perverts his ideas about American democracy are still not completely understood.
We have the right to know more.
As Johnson continues to let Ukraine twist in the wind, acting as Putin’s proxy in Congress, he not only casts doubt on his own motives, but on the institution as a whole.
We shouldn’t be left to wonder about the allegiance of our leaders, and yet, when it comes to Republicans, from Donald Trump and Mike Johnson on down, we are constantly left to speculate the deep influences operating within the entire Republican Party.
One thing is certain: I’m going to keep asking questions.
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This column belongs in the New York Times so more readers can be reached about the rotten politicians in the GOP. I am so tired of these weasels getting paid to undermine the United States in their positions in Congress and the House. Mary, you did a wonderful with the story exposing Mike Johnson!
They really need to get rid of this guy. Can you imagine that ukraine's future depends on this moron, white Christian nationalist and trump sycophant... Something needs to be done.