Once again, the Republican Party completely caved in and gave the Democrats everything they wanted. This time, GOP Chairman Mike Johnson made an about-face on FISA. He is also on the verge of giving in to further foreign aid for Ukraine and Israel.
Enter Senator Rand Paul, who has never been shy about criticizing his own party.
And now the senator is turning his eyes to Speaker Johnson.
RELATED: Speaker Mike Johnson provides explanation for his flip-flop on FISA spying on Americans
Paul says no difference between Johnson and the Democrats
According to Paul, Johnson has “completely changed” and sold out his conservative principles since becoming Speaker of the House, and has focused in particular on his recent support for the FISA government surveillance program.
Paul said Republican Johnson was now no different from Democrats.
Senator Paul made his comments on Fox News Sunday morning futures.
“People need to be strong in their beliefs. He was seen as a conservative before he became speaker,” Paul said. “He’s completely changed and lost all his principles about the idea that we shouldn’t spy on Americans without a warrant.”
“Johnson did not stand his ground,” Paul continued. “He Has the power. He has the majority. He uses the power of the purse, spokesman Johnson. Do something to make us think you are different from the Democrats, but so far I don’t see much difference.”
Johnson angered Conservatives last week by helping pass legislation that would reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for another two years.
This allows for warrantless surveillance authority.
Paul has long opposed Section 702 and federal government surveillance programs in general.
The Fox News host asked Paul whether he should trust the government with these warrantless spying powers.
“Absolutely not,” Paolo replied. “Americans should not be spied on by their own government.
“The Fourth Amendment was introduced by our founding fathers to protect us. FISA does not respect the Fourth Amendment,” he added. “Speaker Johnson was incredibly wrong.”
RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Kash Patel Talks FISA Reform: Suggests Program Could Still Be Used to Spy on Trump and Other Candidates
“Democrats got everything they wanted”
Paul also criticized Johnson for an appropriations deal the president struck with Democrats that authorized Congress last month to fund the government for the 2024 fiscal year.
“The Democrats got everything they wanted in terms of spending,” Paul lamented, including spending on Ukraine.
President Johnson isn’t the only Republican leader helping Democrats, either. After Senate leader Mitch McConnell announced that he would step down from his leadership role, he said he would remain as a senator to fight “isolationist” forces in the GOP – meaning Rand Paul, for example.
McConnell is a staunch supporter of US financing of Ukraine.
Paul said of McConnell leaving leadership: “Anyone at this point would be better off because he has now decided that Ukraine and sending our money to Ukraine – which we have to borrow – is more important than anything else, including our border.”
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