Matt Gaetz defends new speaker after reports of odd financial disclosures

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) rushed to the defense of new House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) after new reporting raised questions about his financial disclosures.

The Daily Beast published a new report Wednesday revealing that Johnson has never reported a checking or savings account in his name — nor his wife or children's names — during his seven years in Congress, and the website's Washington bureau chief Matt Fuller questioned the House speaker's finances.

It came after Raw Story exclusively reported last week that the new speaker apparently had few assets.

ALSO READ: New Speaker Mike Johnson: no assets, lots of debt

"Mike Johnson doesn't have any retirement savings, own a single stock, or have any assets at all," Fuller posted on X. "He has less than $5,000 in his bank account. He's got a $250-500K mortgage, a home equity loan, and a personal loan. So what's his retirement plan? To lobby?"

Gaetz responded about a half hour later, saying that Johnson's financial disclosures only bolstered his credentials.

"The Daily Beast is furious that @SpeakerJohnson isn’t rich, corrupt or rich from being corrupt," Gaetz responded, tagging the speaker's account. "He doesn’t have shady business deals. He doesn’t trade stocks as a congressman. Cry more, I guess?"

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Fuller replied in a somewhat ominous tone, hinting at reporting on Gaetz's personal scandals.

"Furious? Just pointing out that he has no assets according to his personal financial disclosure," Fuller posted. "Don’t know much about him! There are other congressmen I know a lot about."