Speaker Johnson dismisses congressional scrutiny as federal agents crack down on protesters

WASHINGTON (CN) — Republican leaders in Congress have not seen enough evidence to justify an investigation into how federal law enforcement is treating protesters amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday.

And though images have circulated for weeks showing Homeland Security Department agents and other federal authorities deploying aggressive tactics to disperse unarmed demonstrators and targeting members of the media, the top House Republican blamed protesters he framed as radical left-wing agitators.

Federal agents and National Guard soldiers have surged into several U.S. cities in recent months amid President Donald Trump’s campaign of mass deportations. The White House is currently dialed in on Portland and Chicago, where the president has said law enforcement is acting to remove migrants but is also cracking down on crime.

The federal presence, particularly in Chicago, has produced stunning images — such as a video published by the Homeland Security Department showing agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement rappelling from a Black Hawk helicopter into an apartment block. The military-style operation was framed as a raid on members of transnational gang Tren de Aragua, but reports said federal agents detained children during the sweep.

Federal law enforcement has also used a heavy hand with protesters who for weeks have demonstrated outside ICE detention facilities in both cities. In one video clip that circulated on social media last week, a Chicago pastor was shot in the head with a pepper ball fired from a rooftop of the Broadview, Illinois, ICE facility by a federal agent.

Journalists have also been targeted with riot control weapons including rubber bullets, pepper spray and tear gas — a federal judge last week temporarily barred the use of such tactics against protesters, reporters and members of the clergy.

But according to Johnson, there’s no need yet for members of Congress to exercise their oversight authority on federal law enforcement cracking down on demonstrators.

“I’ve not seen them cross the line yet,” the House speaker told Courthouse News during a news conference Tuesday morning. “We have committees of jurisdiction who have that responsibility, but it’s not risen to that level.”

Instead, Johnson shifted the focus to the protesters themselves, who he called “radical leftist activists” and accused of abusing law enforcement officers.

“Most recently, the most threatening thing I’ve seen yet was the naked bicyclers in Portland who were protesting ICE,” he added, alluding to the city’s annual “Naked Bike Ride,” which has taken place since 2004 but was convened in an “emergency” demonstration on Sunday to protest federal presence in Portland.

Johnson did not completely slam the door on congressional oversight, telling Courthouse News that lawmakers were watching the situation “closely,” but signaled that House Republicans were in lockstep support of law enforcement who were defending against “crazy radicals.”

“This is serious business, and ICE and the valiant, brave, patriotic Americans who step up to serve in these dangerous law enforcement positions deserve our respect and support,” he said. “I understand free speech … but you cannot assault law enforcement officers — that is a line that has to be maintained.”

As House Republican leadership dismisses congressional scrutiny on federal law enforcement, the Trump administration’s campaigns in Chicago and Portland continue. The Homeland Security Department has said that its operation in Illinois, dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz,” has resulted in more than 800 arrests. Dozens of people have been detained by federal law enforcement or arrested by local police in protests near the Portland ICE facility.

In Chicago, federal agents were filmed over the weekend arresting a news producer working for local television station WGN-TV. The producer, a U.S. citizen identified as Debbie Brockman, was later released without charges.

The Homeland Security Department, for its part, has vigorously defended the conduct of federal agents. Agency public affairs secretary Tricia McLaughlin has said that Brockman was one of “several violent agitators” impeding federal agents. She wrote in a post on X Saturday that the news producer “threw objects” at law enforcement.

And focus on the Trump administration’s aggressive tactics against demonstrators comes ahead of major protest activity planned across the country this weekend — a sequel to the “No Kings” protests earlier this year. It’s unclear whether the White House will respond to the demonstrations, which will take place in Chicago and Washington, D.C., among other places.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise on Tuesday referred to the scheduled protest action as “the hate America rally.” Minnesota Representative Tom Emmer, the House GOP whip, said on Fox Business Tuesday morning that the demonstration catered to people who “just do not love this country.”

“These guys are playing to the most radical, small and violent base in the country,” said Emmer.

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