Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) demanded his Democratic colleagues support House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who could be facing a vote to remove him from office by members of his caucus.
Johnson is fending off verbal assaults from fellow Republicans and threats to remove him from the speakership as he weighs putting a vote to pass Ukraine aid on the floor. Suozzi denounced Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) recent actions against Johnson and insisted that Democrats, who have little motive to support Johnson, given that a Democratic speaker could be elected if he is removed, support the speaker.
“Democrats must offer Speaker Johnson our votes to save democracy in Ukraine and here,” Suozzi said in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. “We can’t let our partisan instincts get in our way. We must work with Republicans to disarm Mr. Putin’s puppet, get a vote to support Ukraine, and defeat Russian disinformation.
The New York Democrat offered his personal support to Johnson “if he does his job” and followed suit with the Senate in passing an aid package for Ukraine in its conflict against Russia. Suozzi cited Ukraine’s lack of ammunition and Kyiv’s lack of anti-aircraft weapons for the increasingly urgent timeline on a Ukraine bill.
“Russia seeks to tear apart the fragile fabric of international order, end American prominence in Europe, destroy the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and end the era of American-style democracy,” Suozzi said. “America must stop Mr. Putin before our men and women in uniform are forced to defend NATO soil.”
Suozzi indicated that Greene is furthering a disinformation campaign launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin that he says Putin intends to deepen partisan lines in American politics. He quoted House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH), who said he’s seeing disinformation from Russia.
“We see directly coming from Russia attempts to mask communications that are anti-Ukraine and pro-Russia messages — some of which we even hear being uttered on the House floor,” the Ohio Republican said.
Turner said that messaging has infected the Republican Party, and Suozzi sought to condemn Greene’s efforts to stall the foreign aid. He called Greene an extremist “who would rather America do nothing with democracy on the line.”
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Greene’s rhetoric and the proposal of a Russian disinformation campaign have prompted Suozzi to speak out and cross party lines.
“Democrats can’t just wait for Republicans to work with us,” Suozzi said.