Rep. Dusty Johnson mocks Chinese official for letter that went to former House speaker

Johnson accuses communist of spreading propaganda over Taiwan resolution

Congressman Dusty Johnson has sent a letter to a Chinese Communist official poking fun at him for not knowing who is currently serving as speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives.

Johnson responded to a two-page letter sent by Zhou Zheng to former Speaker of the House Spencer Gosch this month. Zheng, the minister-counselor for the Chinese Embassy’s congressional and sub-national affairs section, criticized Gosch for a resolution that the South Dakota Legislature passed this year praising the state’s relationship with Taiwan.

Problem is, Gosch is not currently speaker. Nor is he even in the Legislature. Gosch served six years in the House, including as speaker in 2021 and 2022. Zheng’s letter was sent to Gosch’s home address.

“First,” Johnson wrote, “I’m surprised a country with your expansive surveillance apparatus isn’t aware that Hugh Bartels, not Spencer Gosch, is the South Dakota Speaker of the House.”

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