Johnson Spox: He Does Have “Personal Bank Account”

Playbook reports:

“Newly elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson does not have a bank account.” That was the lead of a Daily Beast story last week that cited financial disclosure forms in highlighting Johnson’s relatively modest finances — and speculating about Johnson’s financial well-being and whether he might be “ripe for influence buying.”

The story prompted a host of follow-up articles, a late-night talk-show crack and a line of questioning on this week’s “Fox News Sunday.” Throughout, Johnson’s office declined to comment on the central claim — that he doesn’t have so much as a simple checking account.

But last night Johnson’s new spokesman, Raj Shah, reached out to Playbook to set the record straight: “Speaker Johnson has a personal bank account,” Shah said, explaining that the account is exempt from House disclosure rules because it is not interest-bearing.

Read the full article.

Speaker Johnson on reports he hasn’t disclosed a bank account or asset on a financial disclosure going back to 2016: “I am a man of modest means.” pic.twitter.com/eK4OLVS3FM

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 5, 2023