The Archive

IN THIS EDITION

News: What Johnson told big donors behind closed doors

Report reveals new info about 2011 Harry Dunn domestic incident

Jordan talks Johnson, House GOP unity, impeachment

What we’re watching

THE TOP

News: What Johnson told big donors behind closed doors

Happy Monday morning.

News: Speaker Mike Johnson signaled to an audience at his high-dollar donor retreat that he’d support kicking members off their committees if they oppose party-line procedural votes.

Republicans voting against the rule has been a huge problem for Johnson and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy this Congress. With the GOP’s razor-thin margin of control, Republicans can only afford a handful of defections on rule votes, which are typically passed on a partisan basis. It was once unthinkable to have a member of the majority vote against a rule. But hardline Republicans — even those serving on the Rules Committee — have made it practice. Control of the Rules Committee is how the speaker controls the floor.

Johnson made the remarks at the Four Seasons during the two-day retreat, which kicked off Sunday night. Johnson noted he has no way to force lawmakers into line. He said that next Congress, Republicans should think about rules changes that reflect the will of the majority of the House GOP. Hello, motion to vacate!

What to expect this week: The House is in today and the Senate returns tomorrow. President Joe Biden will have lunch with King Abdullah II of Jordan today at the White House. Biden then heads to Racine, Wis., and Chicago on Wednesday.

We’ll focus this morning on Johnson, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and this week’s expected vote on Greene’s motion to dump the speaker.

To start with, there’s no reason to believe the motion to vacate will succeed. Greene only has two other public supporters of the motion at this point — Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.).

Sources close to the Georgia Republican say she’s working to round up more votes, and there are clearly a number of conservative hardliners who don’t like what Johnson did on Ukraine aid or the FY2024 spending bills. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) seems to be at his tipping point as well.

Inside the GOP leadership, the mood is calm. After House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other top Democrats declared that they’re ready to help Johnson table a motion to vacate, there’s no chance that the speaker can be toppled — at least not in this instance. The challenge for Johnson is whether Greene keeps doing this and whether he can continue to hold his conference together.

The Georgia Republican kept up her public attacks on Johnson over the weekend, saying the speaker “must resign or be removed” after the Democrats’ declaration of support.

Yet being upset with Johnson is a long way from voting to oust him, especially after October’s debacle for House Republicans following McCarthy’s removal. That painful memory, combined with a lack of a real alternative and the looming November election, helps Johnson enormously.

As we reported, there’s no broad movement inside the House Freedom Caucus to dump Johnson. Other top conservatives including House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) continue to back Johnson despite their unhappiness with his policy decisions (more on that below).

Johnson has also gotten backing from former President Donald Trump, who said the speaker is “doing a very good job” with the small margin of control that House Republicans have. Johnson attended a Trump campaign donor retreat on Thursday and appeared on stage with the former president.

And as we scooped on Friday and as mentioned above, Johnson has his own big-donor retreat today at the Four Seasons in Georgetown. A notable political attendee is former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a one-time House member. A number of prominent Silicon Valley figures will also be there. Remember that the NRCC is getting crushed by the DCCC, so hand-holding with donors is especially critical.

On the floor this week: The pressing issue for Congress is the FAA reauthorization.

The Senate is trying to pass it before the Friday deadline, though it’ll take a unanimous consent agreement to finish up in time. Negotiations over potential amendment votes continued over the weekend. Some Senate leaders have floated a short-term FAA extension, citing the condensed timeline.

The House has listed the FAA bill as possible on the floor this week.

Here is a flavor of the other bills the House may consider:

→	“The Hands Off Our Home Appliances Act.” House Republicans have been hot on the idea that the Biden administration is waging a war against home gadgets.

→

The Securing the Chain of Command Continuity Act would mandate “an executive agency whose head is a member of the National Security Council to notify the Executive Office of the President, the Comptroller General of the United States, and congressional leadership of such head becoming medically incapacitated within 24 hours.” This is aimed at Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who was hospitalized and didn’t inform the White House.

→	The ASTRO Act would “authorize transportation for government astronauts returning from space between their residence and various locations.”

Around the Capitol: The House has a number of antisemitism-related hearings this week. (More on this below). Plus, it’s appropriations season, meaning several Cabinet officials and agency heads are on the Hill to testify about how much money they need from taxpayers.

— John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman

THE CAMPAIGN

Report reveals new info about 2011 Harry Dunn domestic incident

We have new details about a 2011 domestic dispute between Democratic congressional candidate Harry Dunn and his then-wife.

Dunn, a former U.S. Capitol Police officer who gained national attention following his testimony in the Jan. 6 investigation, allegedly pointed a gun at Danyell Dunn and shoved her against a wall, according to a report from a Montgomery County Police officer who investigated the incident.

No criminal charges were ever filed against Dunn, and the Capitol Police dismissed the domestic abuse allegations. The Capitol Police suspended Dunn for three days after the incident, but only because Dunn was found to have improperly stored his department-issued gun.

When we first reported on the allegations in March, Dunn and his ex-wife downplayed the incident. “At no point were we physically violent toward each other or our family, and we never made our home feel unsafe,” Harry and Danyell Dunn said in a joint statement.

But an investigative narrative written by a corporal with the Montgomery County Police Department Domestic Violence Unit doesn’t align with that claim. Punchbowl News obtained this report.

During a November 2011 dispute sparked by Dunn’s displeasure with his stepson, Dunn’s then-wife told police that Dunn “proceeded to ‘smash’ her up against the wall.” Danyell told officers that Dunn “pushed and pulled her arms” in an attempt to confront his stepson.

In the middle of the confrontation — after Dunn’s then-wife wiggled a paring knife in his direction — Dunn went to a spare bedroom to retrieve his service weapon and rifle. Dunn carried his weapons past his then-wife in the kitchen and took them to the basement.

According to the police, Danyell said she “observed Harry as he aimed the handgun in the direction of her face.” Danyell added she “flinched and demanded he get the gun out of her face.” She recounted that Dunn said something to the effect of “I can’t shoot you, I don’t have the clip.”

The official Capitol Police investigative report concludes that “MCPD investigators did not have enough evidence to show that Dunn pointed his gun at his wife during the argument.”

“However, the fact remains that Dunn handled his firearm in such a way as to cause his wife to feel intimidated and to cause his wife to allege to the MCPD that Dunn had pointed his gun at her,” the report continued.

Dunn’s team referred us back to the statements they provided in March from Dunn, his ex-wife and his ex-wife’s sister. In those statements, all involved said Dunn was never violent toward Danyell. And Dunn’s former sister-in-law described Dunn as “a peaceful and humble person” and “one of the most responsible people I know.”

Dunn is one of the frontrunners in the crowded May 14 primary to succeed retiring Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) in the Howard County-area seat. Dunn has raised more than $4 million and has been endorsed by top Democrats including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.) and Rep. Adam Schiff (Calif.).

Important context: During Harry and Danyell Dunn’s divorce proceedings in 2019, a Montgomery County Judge awarded Harry Dunn sole legal custody of their child. In the proceedings, the judge described Dunn as a good influence on their child and didn’t find any evidence to believe he had been abusive or neglectful.

— Max Cohen

THE HOUSE GOP

Jordan talks Johnson, House GOP unity, impeachment

PHILADELPHIA — We caught up with House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) here to get a sense of what he thinks of the current state of the House GOP.

It’s an interesting time for House Republicans, who are seeing their effort to impeach President Joe Biden falter. Furthermore, a small group of hardliners are looking to oust Speaker Mike Johnson. Déjà vu, folks.

Johnson: Jordan reiterated that he supports Johnson, adding he’ll oppose any effort to oust the speaker.

“I’m not for it,” Jordan said. “I’ll vote against the motion to vacate, but I think the tabling motion will happen first and I’ll vote to table that motion.”

Jordan acknowledged he’s had disagreements with Johnson on how the speaker handled FISA, Ukraine aid and FY2024 spending bills.

Jordan also remains adamant that he doesn’t have higher ambitions to climb into leadership himself. Remember that Jordan ran for speaker before Johnson won the gavel, so take that with a grain of salt.

We did recently write about what Jordan has been up to behind the scenes, which includes helping dozens of his rank-and-file GOP colleagues in an election year.

Impeachment: Jordan said the case for impeaching Biden is still open, as the nearly year-long inquiry drags on. However, Jordan didn’t give a concrete timeline to finish the probe nor a commitment that House Republicans will draft articles of impeachment.

Remember: Election Day is about six months away and the longer the Biden impeachment inquiry drags on, the more difficult it will be to get this process across the finish line.

“The case is compelling but we got to finish our work and then make a decision,” Jordan said

Jordan added that it’s up to Johnson and the GOP leadership if they want to bring it to a floor vote once he and Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) complete their work.

Republican investigators haven’t turned up any conclusive evidence of wrongdoing by Biden throughout their probe.

Party unity: Jordan called on Republicans to focus on beating Democrats and electing former President Donald Trump rather than fighting with each other.

“We should stick together as Republicans,” Jordan said. “The next six months is about electing President Trump as president of the United States. It’s about winning back the United States Senate… and that’s why we need to win the House.”

Jordan also disagreed with his colleagues’ efforts to get involved in primaries to support challengers over incumbents.

A number of Freedom Caucus members are supporting right-wing challengers to moderate incumbents. A handful of moderates are also backing John McGuire, a Virginia state senator challenging HFC Chair Bob Good (R-Va.).

“I don’t engage in that,” Jordan said. “The only time I’ve ever endorsed against an incumbent was when it was two incumbents running and I had already been for one and felt that was the right person, so other than that situation, we shouldn’t be doing it.”

Jordan supported Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.) this year against Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.) in a member-on-member primary after redistricting.

— Mica Soellner

📆

What we’re watching

Monday: The House Rules Committee will meet on several measures slated for the floor this week.

Tuesday: House Appropriations will hear from IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.

The House Oversight Committee will hold a hearing on the origins of antisemitism on campus with two experts.

Wednesday: House Appropriations will hear from Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee will have a hearing on allegations of bias at NPR. Katherine Maher, NPR’s president and CEO, has been invited to testify.

Senate EPW will hear from EPA Administrator Michael Regan.

Senate Appropriations will have hearings with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. C.Q. Brown.

The House Education and the Workforce Committee will hold a hearing on antisemitism in K-12 education. And on the same day, the House Oversight Committee will have a hearing on the pro-Palestinian encampment at George Washington University. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is among those invited to testify.

Thursday: The Senate Appropriations Committee will hear from Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su.

Friday: The House Ways and Means Committee will have a field hearing in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Native American and rural communities. The House Judiciary Committee will be in Sahuarita, Ariz., for a hearing about the border. The House Energy and Commerce Committee has a field hearing in Bakersfield, Calif., about rural broadband.

— Jake Sherman

THE CAMPAIGN

News: The New Democrat Coalition Action Fund is endorsing three Democratic candidates in key flip opportunities: Lanon Baccam in Iowa’s 3rd District, Laura Gillen in New York’s 4th District and Michelle Vallejo in Texas’ 15th District.

Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), the dean of the House who was first elected in 1980, is up on TV in his district ahead of the May 21 primary. The ad touts that Rogers is a “leader that always delivers” for his district.

— Max Cohen and Jake Sherman

MOMENTS

CLIPS