House speaker Mike Johnson yelled at several MAGA stalwarts after they chose not to back the reauthorization of an international spying act, according to a new report.
"I was getting a spanking on the floor," Rep. Anna Paulina Luna told Axios, after she was laid into by Johnson alongside Lauren Boebert and Tim Burchett.
The Republican trio had refused to vote to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows warrantless surveillance of non-Americans located outside the U.S. to collect foreign intelligence.
Luna said that despite Johnson’s tirade, her position had not changed. "They already told me that if it doesn't pass, I'm going to be responsible for thousands of Americans dying,” she told Axios.
Several lawmakers told the outlet that Johnson had seemed “visibly frustrated and upset,” with Burchett adding that the rant had been “high-pitched.”
“He’s upset. I mean, they got him going every which direction,” he said.
Boebert has not commented on the exchange.
The Independent has contacted the offices of Luna, Burchett, Boebert and Johnson for comment on Wednesday’s alleged incident.
The act is currently set to expire on April 20, after the House returns from a two-week recess. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller is leading calls for it to be extended, unchanged, through 2027.
Critics argue that the bill should include requirements such as a warrant, though Johnson previously called such a change “unworkable.” They have also questioned oversight of the process.
The speaker told reporters earlier this week that “roughly 65 percent of the president’s daily security briefing comes from collection out of Section 702 of FISA,” adding that the bill was crucial to maintain national security.
“It’s a very important tool to keep Americans safe, and it’s not something to play around with,” he said.
Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chair of the Judiciary Committee, who has also expressed concerns about the lack of oversight of FISA, told Politico that he was confident that a compromise could be reached.
“We know 702 is important,” Jordan said. “We know it needs to get reauthorized. We’re committed to getting that done.”
“We just want to do it in the best way possible so that you can get the bad guys, know what the bad guys are doing overseas, but also protect Americans,” he added. “I’m confident we’ll get there.”
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