NY Rep. Elise Stefanik blasts House Speaker Mike Johnson in feud that threatens defense package

Rep. Elise Stefanik accused House Speaker Mike Johnson of “blocking” one of her initiatives in an intraparty spat Tuesday that threatened Congress’ defense package.

Stefanik accused Johnson of blocking a measure out of National Defense Authorization talks that would’ve required the FBI to inform candidates for federal office if they’re being investigated as part of a counterintelligence operation.

“The Speaker is blocking my provision to root out the illegal weaponization that led to Crossfire Hurricane, Arctic Frost, and more. He is siding with [Democratic Rep.] Jamie Raskin against Trump Republicans to block this provision to protect the deep state,” she posted to X Tuesday morning.

“This is an easy one. This bill is DOA unless this provision gets added in as it was passed out of committee,” she added.

The unusual public feud amongst House higher-ups comes as Stefanik runs for governor and readies to leave her congressional seat next year.

The provision was in reaction to congressional Republicans’ probe into the origins of then-FBI Director James Comey’s 2016 investigation into collusion between President Trump’s campaign and Russia. Stefanik rose to prominence in part for her grilling of Comey during a hearing on Capitol Hill in 2017.

Johnson flatly denied that he’s blocking the provision, saying the decision to do so at this stage of the process falls to the top members of the House and Senate judiciary committees – two Democrats and two Republicans.

“I don’t exactly know why Elise won’t just call me,” Johnson told reporters, acting somewhat confused about the dustup Tuesday, He noted that Stefanik is “upset” about the provision and that he’s offered to “help her resolve it.”

“I support her provision. I mean, I would vote for it. I think it’s smart and I’m not sure why it wasn’t included,” he said.

“I don’t know why she’s frustrated with me. I literally had nothing to do with it,” he added.

Stefanik immediately took to X after Johnson’s press conference to throw more fuel on the fire, charging “just more lies from the Speaker.”

“This is his preferred tactic to tell Members when he gets caught torpedoing the Republican agenda,” she said.

Since the provision is first vetted by the committees of jurisdiction – House Judiciary and Senate Judiciary – the top Republicans and Democrats on those panels have to approve it before it goes into the bill as part of longstanding practice for the, traditionally bipartisan, defense package.

A House Republican source told The Post that Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the Judiciary panel, is threatening to whip Democrats against the defense package vote if it remains in the package.

“Raskin is threatening to tank the whole thing if it’s not thrown out,” the source said.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is supportive of including the provision, a spokesperson said.

Reps for their Senate counterparts – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa.) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) didn’t return a request for comment, nor did Raskin’s.

A Senate aide meanwhile told The Post the drama is strictly a “House issue.”

“The Senate Judiciary Committee hasn’t been involved,” they said.

Stefanik is currently Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership, a position she attained with Johnson’s support earlier this year.

Barring a primary challenge from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman or another upset, Stefanik would be at the top of the ticket as Johnson and House Republicans try to gain ground in the Empire State’s battleground congressional districts next year.

Johnson himself campaigned in many of those districts last year, including a barnstorming trip in the run up to Election Day.