After the sudden and shocking resignation announcement from Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson on Monday, the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack announced that they are opening an investigation into Johnson’s whereabouts during the Capitol riots on January 6th, 2021. Committee Chair Bennie Thompson spoke at a press briefing late Monday night following the announcement of Johnson’s resignation.
“It has come to my colleagues and I’s attention that Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson has resigned from her position as president of the university. While the FBI and local Columbus police haven’t released an official statement regarding why Johnson has resigned nor what activities may have led to her resignation, we at the January 6th Committee have decided to open an investigation into Kristina M. Johnson’s involvement with the January 6th riots.”
It shouldn’t come as a surprise as to why the January 6th Committee is so interested in Johnson’s involvement at the Capitol building. During the 2020 Ohio State presidential election, Johnson infamously tweeted “STOP THE STEAL” after reports came in showing she was trailing her opponent, Marcabus Schlongabus, in the Smith-Steeb and Morrill districts of campus. Additionally, Johnson had previously made undemocratic and cruel remarks towards Schlongabus along the campaign trail. One such remark especially stirred the electorate with Johnson tweeting, “Schlongabus is a stupid hipotautimus [sic]”. This hit especially hard as Schlongabus’ pet hippopotamus had passed away of cholera only a few months before the Tweet.
While no evidence points to Kristina M. Johnson having directly incited or encouraged any violence at the Capitol, she did have connections with former U.S. president Donald Trump. Just this past April, Johnson and Trump were photographed intimately dancing at Bullwinkles.
“We found that photo quite disturbing,” said Liz Cheney, Vice-Chair of the January 6th Committee.
“While it’s unfair to assume that anyone photographed with the former president is guilty of inciting a riot, it’s certainly interesting that Johnson and Trump both have histories of using their Twitter accounts to stir political violence and unrest.”
Kristina M. Johnson is set to step away from her position as president of The Ohio State University after the spring semester of 2023 concludes. There is currently no set timeframe for the January 6th Committee to begin holding hearings on this matter, but sources estimate preliminary trials may begin in the summer of 2023. Stay tuned to The Sundial for the latest.
Written by Grant Lieberman, Contributor and White House Correspondent