Marjorie Taylor Greene to introduce measure to defund Trump special counsel
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Monday vowed to introduce a measure that would defund special counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into former President Donald Trump.
“Today, I’d like to announce that I’m writing an appropriations rider to defund Jack Smith, special counsel, his office and the investigation,” Greene said on the House floor. “This is a weaponized government attempt to take down the top political enemy and leading presidential candidate of the United States, Donald J. Trump.”
Trump, 76, is due to be arraigned in Miami, Fla., on Tuesday on 37 charges related to his alleged mishandling of classified White House documents.
In the 49-page indictment against Trump, Smith alleges that the former president improperly held onto sensitive documents upon leaving office, including “information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign counties; United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack; and plans for possible retaliation in response to foreign attack.”
The special counsel – appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November and tasked with overseeing the federal government’s two investigations into Trump – further alleges that Trump discussed possessing some of the classified material with others and stored them inside a “ballroom, a bathroom and shower, an office space, his bedroom, and a storage room” at his Mar-a-Lago club and residence.
“We cannot allow the government to be weaponized for political purposes. I’d also like to ask all of my colleagues to join me in this effort. We have to use the power of appropriations to stop the weaponization of government, especially in light that we know that there are others who are guilty of true crimes,” Greene argued.
“Never forget that former Secretary of State and Senator Hillary Clinton had classified documents on Anthony Weiner’s laptop, who was convicted of sending – sexting – a minor inappropriate pictures. This is not how classified documents should be handled. There should have been an investigation done into that,” she continued.
Greene then pointed to President Biden’s classified document scandal and suggested a double standard exists between the Justice Department’s handling of Trump’s document case versus Biden’s.
“Don’t forget Joe Biden’s documents that are sitting in his garage next to his Corvette where the door opens and closes. America sees this for exactly what it is and we will not allow it to stand,” she said.
Greene’s proposal seems to have the backing of some of her congressional colleagues.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) tweeted his support for Greene’s measure on Monday.
“This is an Article I flex! I’m so here for it,” Gaetz wrote on Twitter.
Similarly, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) on Sunday argued that Congress should invoke the “Holman Rule,” which allows Congress to make amendments to appropriations bills that target specific programs or individuals..
“Congress can and should hold the Biden DOJ accountable by defunding their efforts during the appropriations process, executing the Holman Rule to remove and defund corrupt officials, and conducting oversight on its baseless investigations,” Biggs wrote in a tweet.
Smith is also investigating Trump over his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol Building.
