Johnson can emerge a hero or a goat

Rejecting the House of Representatives invitation borders on cowardice

If Mayor Brandon Johnson decides to honor a request from the chair of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform next month; he will have an opportunity to dispel the ongoing label of being “the worst mayor in America” by painstakingly explaining the benefits of a “sanctuary city” for immigrants and the native born.

If he refuses, the worst label might be replaced with scared.

Johnson is being asked to testify during a hearing in Washington, D.C. The hearing is February 11. In a letter sent to the Johnson, besides asking him to testify, he is being asked to “provide documents and communications regarding the city’s sanctuary status.”

The committee also wants Chicago’s correspondence with city, state and federal officials regarding sanctuary city discussions. Similar letters also were sent to the mayors of Boston, Denver, and New York - all self-declared sanctuary cities.

His other option is to maintain his usual public persona where he answers questions with doublespeak and obfuscation. The first-term mayor also has garnered a reputation for being combative with news reporters and editors who ask him questions he doesn’t like. Ironically, it is the same tact, including having aides take the microphone away from those questioners, that his nemesis - President Donald Trump - is prone to use.

Johnson reinforced his disdain for reporters recently when Johnson engaged a CBS reporter recently.

Tye: "Why wouldn't you go to D.C.?"

Johnson: "Well, I've gone to D.C. multiple times."

Tye: "On this occasion."

Johnson: "Well, because here's the thing — the people of Chicago want to have a far broader conversation in this moment."

Tye: "But this representative wants to have a very specific conversation with you."

Johnson: "Well, I find that to be, you know, disingenuous, quite frankly. When the people of Chicago say that they want affordability, that's why we're building more affordable homes."

Tye: "What do you make of reports that Representative [James] Comer (R-Kentucky) may compel you and your fellow mayors to come by way of subpoena?"

Johnson: "Well, you know, again, the Trump administration has control over the House, the Senate, the judicial branch of government. This is really an incredible derelict of duty in this moment when we have the opportunity, the way this administration has the opportunity, to actually pass immigration reform policy.

Rep James Comer

Rather than directly answering the reporter’s questions on a trip to D.C., Johnson attempted to move the conversation to housing.

It appears Johnson realizes if he does attend the hearing he will be relinquishing his most- powerful person in the room status-something he has become used to flaunting. He is under no obligation to accede to this request, but Comer’s committee does have subpoena power. Having to testify under those conditions obviously would be challenging and more rigorous than if he showed up at the hearing next month.

The city’s corporation counsel couched her rationale for the mayor possibly not going to the hearing stating “it would be premature to talk about going until such time that we’ve digested all of the legal issues as well as well as the other substantive aspects of the communication from the Oversight Committe”

Again, Johnson drummed up his mantra about what the people of Chicago want. Again, he failed to produce any form of research reinforcing what Chicagoans want.

Not only did the Immigration Reform Law Institute identify Johnson as “the worst mayor in America; an Ohio Congressman referred to him as “a bumbling idiot”

Read Congressman Moreno's comments

Johnson has the chance to change some minds by testifying versus staying at home; but will he see the benefit of the trip is still up in the air.