A bitter internal Conservative row has erupted in the United States, with Republican Speaker Mike Johnson forced to concede ground after a blistering attack from a senior party figure on his right flank.
Accusations of Lying and Liberal Alignment
Elise Stefanik, the Chairwoman of House GOP leadership and a candidate for New York governor, publicly accused the Republican speaker of lying and siding with liberals. The dispute centred on her proposed reform to the FBI's surveillance powers, which would require the agency to inform Congress of any counter-intelligence activity involving candidates for federal office.
Stefanik contends that past investigations into former President Donald Trump demonstrate how the agency can be weaponised against political opponents. She specifically cited the 2016 FBI probe, led by then-director James Comey, into debunked allegations of Trump's ties to Russia.
Threat to Pentagon Bill Forces Compromise
The conflict escalated this week when Stefanik surprisingly accused Speaker Johnson of quietly working to kill her provision. She threatened to tank a crucial bipartisan Pentagon funding bill if her demands were not met, a move that would have created a major headache for Defence officials.
The stalemate was broken following a call involving Stefanik, Johnson, and former President Donald Trump. On Wednesday morning, Stefanik posted on X: 'After a productive discussion I had last night with President Trump and Speaker Johnson, the provision requiring Congressional disclosure when the FBI opens counterintelligence investigations into presidential and federal candidates seeking office will be included.'
The Pentagon funding bill is now expected to go to a vote next week with Stefanik's amendment attached. It remains unclear whether Johnson actively worked against the legislation initially or what his motivation might have been.
Broader Conservative-on-Conservative Warfare
The compromise came only after Stefanik's fiery public attack, where she accused Johnson of 'getting rolled' by Democrats. 'The deep state is alive and well with the Speaker getting rolled by House Dems attempting to block my provision,' she wrote. 'It is a scandalous disgrace that Republicans are allowing themselves to be rolled by the Dems and deep state on this.'
This episode adds to existing tension between the two; Stefanik has reportedly blamed Johnson for the collapse of her nomination earlier this year to become US ambassador to the UN, a post she was nominated for by Trump.
In a separate warning shot this week, Stefanik also signed a discharge petition to force a House vote on banning stock trading by members of Congress. This manoeuvre, if it gathers the required 218 signatures, could circumvent the speaker's usual control over the legislative agenda. While Johnson has called insider trading in Congress a serious problem, progress on reform has stalled, with lawmakers in both parties reluctant to limit their own financial activities.
The events underscore the fragile hold Speaker Johnson has on his party's fractious right wing and the ongoing internal battles shaping US policy on national security and congressional ethics.
