Shortly before Louisiana Republican Representative Mike Johnson won his bid for House Speaker, ABC News reporter Rachel Scott attempted to ask him about his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Scott didn't get a proper answer—only boos from Johnson's GOP colleagues, with one of them, North Carolina Representative Virginia Foxx even demanding that Scott "shut up."
Johnson, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, was a vocal proponent of Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. However, when confronted with questions about his stance, Johnson and his fellow Republicans chose to avoid the issue altogether.
You can watch what happened in the video below.
The atmosphere grew increasingly hostile, with Johnson shaking his head in apparent disgust. Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert can be seen loudly dismissing Scott's question. Republicans responded with anger and laughter as if acknowledging Johnson's previous positions was preposterous.
Rep. Virginia Foxx attracted considerable attention for demanding that Scott "Shut up, Shut up!"
You can see Foxx's reaction in the video below.
Virginia Foxx Tells Reporter To 'Shut Up' After Questioning Mike Johnsonwww.youtube.com
Left-wing activist Ron Filipkowski noted that oddly, Foxx is a member of the House Education Committee.
Foxx, who is 80 years old and has served North Carolina's 5th congressional district since 2005, was highly criticized.
In the end, Johnson simply dismissed the question, saying, "Next question," and declined to address the matter.
Following the incident, Scott shared her experience on X, formerly Twitter, noting that Republicans yelled at her to "go away" and that Johnson also declined to answer her questions about aid for war-torn Ukraine and Israel, saying he would not discuss "policy."
You can see her post below.
Many praised her for speaking out and criticized Republicans for their actions.
A New York Timesarticle from last year described Johnson as the primary architect behind the objections raised in the Electoral College proceedings on January 6, 2021.
His argument to fellow lawmakers centered on the assertion that certain states' adjustments to their voting procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic were unconstitutional. This argument gained more traction among lawmakers than the unfounded claims of widespread fraud. Ultimately, 147 Republicans voted against certifying President Joe Biden's electors.
Johnson received votes from all 220 Republicans present to become Speaker. In remarks on the House floor, he thanked Republicans, saying the House is "back in business."
