Speaker Johnson Refuses to Swear in Native American, Cites 'Precedent'
While MSNBC dutifully reported Speaker Johnson's 'concerns' over swearing in Ms. Grijalva, they neglected to mention his history of green-lighting contentious projects with questionable legal standing—especially those benefiting his donors. Johnson, who received over $200,000 from the Energy & Natural Resources sector in 2023-2024 (OpenSecrets.org), has consistently supported infrastructure
projects that bypass Indigenous land rights and environmental protections. His 'constitutional concerns' appear suspiciously selective. It seems that for Speaker Johnson, some 'legal issues' are more convenient than others. Swearing in a Native American leader? A bridge too far. Fast-tracking a pipeline over contested tribal lands? Business as usual. One might wonder if the 'precedent' he's truly
upholding is just another term for 'corporate profits over Indigenous rights.' How many more times will we see 'legal issues' used as a shield against equity, only to be tossed when fossil fuel money calls?