‘We should put everything out there’
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) signaled support Tuesday for releasing government files related to dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein – in an apparent break from President Trump.
“I’m for transparency,” Johnson said in an interview with conservative podcast host Benny Johnson, when asked if he would support congressional efforts to subpoena the Justice Department for documents or seek testimony from convicted Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
“It’s a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide,” the House speaker declared.
The FBI and DOJ announced the conclusion of a “systematic review” of the Epstein case last week, in a controversial unsigned memo.
The review found “no credible evidence” that Epstein, who died in his Manhattan jail cell on Aug. 10, 2019, “blackmailed prominent individuals” or that investigations against “uncharged third parties” were warranted.
The memo included a link to surveillance video from the Manhattan prison where Epstein died, suggesting that no one entered the convicted pedophile’s cell the night he committed suicide, and no further disclosures related to the case are planned.
Trump, arguing that the files were “written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration,” has urged his supporters to move on from the case and has backed Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the matter.
“She’s handled it very well. And it’s going to be up to her, whatever she thinks is credible, she should release,” the president told reporters on the White House lawn Tuesday.
House Democrats have also pressed the issue, with Rep. Ro Khanna of California adding an amendment Monday to pending legislation on cryptocurrency and national defense that would have required the files to be disclosed to the public.
In a 7-5 vote, Republicans blocked the measure from passing the House Rules Committee, preventing it from advancing to a full vote in the lower chamber.
Johnson, while calling for transparency, noted that he trusts the president.
“Look, [former President Ronald Reagan] used to tell us we should trust the American people, and I believe in that principle. I know President Trump does as well, and I trust him,” the House speaker said. “I mean, he put together a team of his choosing, and they’re doing a great job.”
Johnson acknowledged that “the White House and the White House team are privy to facts that I don’t know” and that he hasn’t “been involved” in the decision over the handling of Epstein documents.
“But I agree with the sentiment that we need to, we need to put it out there,” he said.
Johnson further argued that Bondi, who suggested in a February Fox News interview that a purported Epstein “client list” was sitting on her desk for her to review, should clarify that statement.
“I don’t know, when she originally made the statement, I think she was talking about documents, as I understood that they were on her desk, I don’t know that she was specific about a list or whatever, but she needs to come forward and explain that to everybody,” the House speaker said.
Johnson said he believes Bondi has “done a good job” as attorney general and suggested more transparency related to Epstein would allow the DOJ to start “focusing on the major priorities.”
“So let’s get this thing resolved so that they can deal with violent crime, and public safety, and election integrity, and going after Act Blue, and the things that the president is most concerned about … So, I’m anxious to get this behind us.”