Speaker Johnson Breaks With Trump, Demands Full Release of Epstein Files
House Speaker Mike Johnson urged Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice to unseal all records involving Jeffrey Epstein, departing from President Donald Trump's stance on this issue. In an interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson said the public has a right to "see everything" and make up their own minds.
The White House has so far refused to release further documents tied to Epstein, a disgraced financier who was charged with s*x trafficking and died in custody in 2019. Johnson’s call for transparency marks a rare public disagreement between two of the highest-profile Republicans in Washington. “I believe sunlight is the best disinfectant,” Johnson said. “Let the public see the truth.”
Questions Grow Around Bondi’s Claims
The scandal intensified earlier this year when Attorney General Pam Bondi, a long-time Trump supporter, asserted she had access to a list of Epstein's A-list clients and other secret files. In February, she advised supporters she had a "truckload" of documents on her desk and vowed a big reveal.
But that vow conflicted with a two-page memo issued by the DOJ and FBI on July 8. The memo stated that there was no "client list," and that charges had been thoroughly investigated, with Epstein having been definitively confirmed to have committed suicide. Trump supporters quickly accused the administration of covering up evidence.
While Trump came to the defense of Bondi, who said that she should pass on "whatever she believes is credible," Speaker Johnson stated that the public deserves transparency. "We need Pam Bondi to step forward and make clear what's really happening," he stated.
House Republicans Block Full Release
In spite of increasing pressure, Republicans in Congress have thwarted two recent attempts by Democrats to compel the release of all Epstein files. A resolution by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) was initially defeated in committee and subsequently narrowly defeated on the House floor.
Many Republicans claim they wish to wait until the "right time," but others, such as Rep. Ralph Norman, initially expressed support for the measure before abandoning it. Democrats say delays imply that something is being concealed. Rep. Khanna promised to continue pushing: "The public is owed answers. We won't give up until these files are released."
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