{"id":2345925,"date":"2024-09-25T16:44:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-25T20:44:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-johnson-demands-zelensky-fire-ukrainian-ambassador-after-pennsylvania-trip-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-25T16:45:48","modified_gmt":"2024-09-25T20:45:48","slug":"mike-johnson-demands-zelensky-fire-ukrainian-ambassador-after-pennsylvania-trip-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mike-johnson-demands-zelensky-fire-ukrainian-ambassador-after-pennsylvania-trip-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Johnson demands Zelensky fire Ukrainian ambassador after Pennsylvania trip &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmike-johnson-demands-zelensky-fire-ukrainian-ambassador-after-pennsylvania-trip-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2345925&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>House \u2062Speaker Mike \u2064Johnson \u200c(R-LA) is urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to dismiss Ukrainian \u200bAmbassador Oksana Markarova following her controversial \u200borganization of a visit \u200dto Pennsylvania. Republicans claim the\u200b trip was\u200d politically\u2063 motivated to influence the upcoming 2024 \u2063elections, alleging it constituted election \u200cinterference. In a letter \u2064to Zelensky, \u2064Johnson expressed concerns about Markarova&#8217;s\u200b ability to serve\u200c as a neutral diplomat\u2063 after the visit,\u200d which was\u200b attended solely by \u2062Democratic\u2063 officials and involved a \u2062tour of\u200d an ammunition plant.\u200b Johnson\u200b emphasized the need for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/president-trumps-executive-order-on-foreign-interference-in-elections-comes-due-today-things-are-going-to-get-real-real-soon\/\" title=\"President Trump\u2019s Executive Order On Foreign Interference in Elections Comes Due Today \u2013 Things Are Going to Get Real \u2013 Real Soon\">foreign nations<\/a> to refrain from interfering in \u200dU.S.\u200c elections, stating that such actions damage diplomatic relations. The situation has raised questions regarding potential violations \u200cof federal law concerning the use of U.S. taxpayer\u200c funds for the trip, and Johnson&#8217;s letter coincides with\u200b Zelensky&#8217;s imminent meeting with lawmakers in Washington.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Mike Johnson demands Zelensky fire Ukrainian ambassador after Pennsylvania trip<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1768667\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is demanding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fire the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States for planning a visit to Pennsylvania earlier this week, a trip Republicans have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3164910\/house-republicans-demand-investigation-zelensky-visit-politically-motivated-harris\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>decried as being politically motivated<\/a> to influence the 2024 election.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/cami_mondeaux\/status\/1839020532420706329\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>In a letter <\/a>sent to Zelensky on Wednesday, Johnson pressed the Ukrainian president to &ldquo;immediately fire&rdquo; Ambassador Oksana Markarova after she <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3166136\/comer-oversight-investigation-zelensky-pennsylvania-visit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>organized a trip to an ammunition plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania,<\/a> and was accompanied by only Democratic officials. Republicans have since accused Zelensky of election interference, raising questions about whether U.S. taxpayer dollars were used to fund the trip in violation of federal law.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The tour was clearly a partisan campaign event designed to help Democrats and is clearly election interference,&rdquo; Johnson wrote. &ldquo;This shortsighted and intentionally political move has caused Republicans to lose trust in Ambassador Markarova&rsquo;s ability to fairly and effectively serve as a diplomat in this country. She should be removed from her post immediately.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Johnson reiterated calls for &ldquo;all foreign nations&rdquo; to avoid weighing in on the presidential election, telling Zelensky that his relationship with the U.S. becomes &ldquo;unnecessarily tested and needlessly tarnished&rdquo; when Republican candidates become targeted by Ukrainian officials.&nbsp;The letter comes just one day before Zelensky is set to visit Capitol Hill and meet with lawmakers in both the House and Senate.<\/p>\n<p>The letter directly responds to Zelensky&rsquo;s visit to Pennsylvania earlier this week, specifically his comments suggesting a Trump-Vance administration could lead to &ldquo;global conflict.&rdquo; Zelensky also angered Republicans when he told the <em>New Yorker <\/em>that Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Republican vice presidential nominee, was &ldquo;too radical&rdquo; and that former President Donald Trump, Republican presidential nominee, &ldquo;doesn&rsquo;t really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The comments have sparked outrage as Republicans argue the remarks may amount to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/outrage-erupts-after-leftists-chase-sinema-into-bathroom-record-her-this-is-insane\/\" title=\"Outrage Erupts After Leftists Chase Sinema Into Bathroom, Record Her: \u2018This Is Insane\u2019\">foreign election interference<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Lawmakers have also pushed for an investigation into whether there was &ldquo;any direct or indirect coordination&rdquo; between Zelensky&rsquo;s visit and any political campaigns, specifically pointing to the fact only Democratic officials were present for the Ukrainian president&rsquo;s stop in Pennsylvania. Those who accompanied Zelensky include Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA), Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), and Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA).<\/p>\n<p>House Republicans have specifically requested a full accounting of the use of military aircraft and Secret Service resources, including an explanation of the justification for those resources and how it &ldquo;aligns with U.S. national interests.&rdquo; Additionally, lawmakers have requested an accounting of all other uses of taxpayer funds in connection with Zelensky&rsquo;s visit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A group of House Republicans have pressed the Justice Department to open an investigation, and the House Oversight Committee announced Wednesday it would be opening its own inquiry into the matter.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The committee sent letters to White House counsel Edward Siskel, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Attorney General Merrick Garland. In the letter to Siskel, Comer said the &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/comer-opens-house-oversight-investigation-into-zelenskys-pennsylvania-visit-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Comer opens House Oversight investigation into Zelensky\u2019s Pennsylvania visit - Washington Examiner\">apparent campaign event&#038;rdquo<\/a>; may have resulted in the &ldquo;potential interference in a federal election.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>Chairman James Comer (R-KY) is requesting any information, both internal and external, regarding Zelensky&rsquo;s visit to the U.S. to be delivered to the committee no later than Oct. 2.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1768667\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1768667\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mike Johnson calls for Zelensky to dismiss Ukrainian ambassador<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2640,"featured_media":2345926,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ZELENSKYUN.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[34218,41734,8630],"class_list":["post-2345925","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-mike-johnson","tag-ukrainian-ambassador","tag-zelensky"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ZELENSKYUN.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2345925","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2640"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2345925"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2345925\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2345926"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2345925"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2345925"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2345925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}