[WATCH] DC Mayor Shuts Down Ron Johnson Over His Comments About Statehood

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed back against Sen. Ron Johnson’s suggestion that residents of her city don’t deserve statehood because they have a greater interest in the federal government than other Americans. The confrontation occurred during a hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday where Johnson repeatedly interrupted Bowser, who wasn’t having any of his nonsense.

“Those individuals who are within the District obviously have a vested interest in a very powerful federal government,” Johnson said while arguing against statehood. “Which is counter to the power vested in the states [and] the states want to maintain their sovereign power.” Johnson also cited the median income of the residents as a point against statehood. “In the end, people choose to live here,” he added. “To me, this seems just like a naked power grab,” he continued. “In 2020, 92.2% of D.C. votes went to the Democratic candidate; 5.4% went to the Republican candidate. In the last 80 elections, no Republican candidate has gotten more than 10% of the vote.”

Johnson then complained about how insurrectionists were “treated” after breaching the Capitol on January 6th. “Have you seen any information as to how much damage was done during the summer rioting?” Johnson wanted to know. But Bowser first insisted on responding to Johnson’s suggestion that D.C. residents do not deserve equal representation because they have a vested interest in the federal government.

“Thank you, Senator, for your interest in the District,” she began. “But I have to address first by talking about the residents of D.C. — 700,000 people, hardworking individuals who educate their children, start businesses, and work in the District.”

Wow, can't make this up. Ron Johnson is now using the DC statehood hearing to question Muriel Bowser on the severity of the insurrection. #wisen

— danny (@dabbs346) June 22, 2021

“It would be incorrect to say that D.C. residents have more of an interest in the federal government than other Americans,” the mayor added. Johnson quickly interrupted: “That’s not the question I asked you. Could you answer the question I asked you? Do you have a property damage estimate from the summer riots?”

“I’m glad to hear you say that you are opposed to riotous behavior, whether it happened on 16th Street or here at the Capitol,” Bowser replied. “Could you answer the question?” Johnson interrupted again. “Do you have an estimate of the property damage during the summer riots?”

Pathetic lightweight Ron Johnson is no intellectual match for Muriel Bowser. #DCStatehood

— Nimble Thought (@Plynch06) June 22, 2021

Bowser did all she could to keep the topic on the Capitol insurrection, the history of which Johnson is trying to help the Republicans rewrite in real time.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) pushes DC Mayor Muriel Bowser about treatment of BLM protesters and Capitol insurrectionists:

“Did we go and arrest people who participated in the summer riots in their individual states, like we did with the January 6th breachers?” pic.twitter.com/RGeJ6Yx9YX

— The Recount (@therecount) June 22, 2021

Twitter just loves to drag Ron “Anon” Johnson, because he keeps giving Twitter so many reasons to drag him.

Ron Johnson is a racist & a traitor. pic.twitter.com/CWkajl5jXR

— Gimme Some Truth 🗽🆘 (@DelVeneto) June 22, 2021

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That’s a tough list to crack.

Here’s my go at it:

1. Mitch McConnell
2. Ted Cruz
3. Orrin Hatch
4. Ron Johnson
5. Lindsey Graham

Maybe she’s top ten.

— Bobby Underwood (@underbobbybaby) June 22, 2021

Ron Johnson is a Russian asset.

— 𝙻𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚃𝚎𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚢 📷 Make #GoodTrouble (@LarryTenney) June 22, 2021

Watch the full exchange between Mayor Bowser and Ron Johnson, which aired live on C-SPAN, below.