Johnson punts to White House as Republicans paralyze House over Epstein files

WASHINGTON (CN) — House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday attempted to play both sides of an intense debate over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, committing to their eventual release but urging his colleagues to give the Donald Trump administration more time to review the evidence.

And the speaker slammed his colleagues — including one Republican — for attempting to force the White House to release the Epstein files in a move that has frozen the House just days before August recess.

Democrats in recent weeks have seized on the Trump administration’s move to sweep its own Epstein probe under the rug, demanding that the White House immediately release the results of a monthslong investigation involving the Justice Department and the FBI.

Trump, who on the campaign trail committed to releasing the government’s files on the late Epstein’s sex crimes, has told his supporters to move on from the issue. But over the weekend he directed the Justice Department to release grand jury testimony related to the Epstein case, a move that must be approved by federal courts.

In the House, Republicans have largely been resistant to calls for legislative action on the Epstein files. Only a handful of GOP lawmakers have signed onto a bipartisan measure led by Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie and California Representative Ro Khanna forcing their release.

And Republicans on the House Rules Committee called off a Monday panel meeting after Democrats attempted to force a separate vote on a resolution calling for the public release of Epstein documents. The abrupt halt of Rules Committee proceedings Monday evening meant that lawmakers could not advance a tranche of unrelated bills that would have gotten a floor vote this week — forcing House leadership to schedule an early start to the chamber’s August recess, initially set to begin next week.

During a news conference with reporters on Monday, Johnson panned the Democrats’ procedural machinations as “nonsense” and accused them of playing political games with the Epstein files.

“This is a serious matter,” the House speaker said. “We are not going to let them use this as a political battering ram.”

Johnson argued that Congress should not stand in the way of the White House as it continues to review Epstein documents, pointing out that the government and lawmakers have a “responsibility” to protect the late financier’s victims, many of whom were minors at the time of his crimes.

“When the Epstein records are turned over to the public — which we must do as quickly as possible — we also have to be very judicious and careful about protecting the innocent,” he said.

It’s unclear what more work the White House would need to do to prepare any of its Epstein files for public release. The administration has reportedly been reviewing its documents on the disgraced financier for months, with some Justice Department and FBI employees working nights and weekends to review them.

Still, Johnson vowed that Republicans would pursue “maximum transparency” where the Epstein files were concerned and added that he trusted the Justice Department and the Trump administration to “do its job.”

“We can both call for transparency and protect victims,” he said. “If you run roughshod, or you do it too quickly, that’s not what happens.”

But the House speaker couldn’t hide his frustration when asked about Massie’s measure. The Kentucky Republican has said that refusing to force the release of Epstein documents could come back to bite the GOP.

“I say Thomas Massie is the one trying to bite Republicans,” Johnson retorted. “I’m not quite certain what his strategy is.”

The speaker contended that Massie could have brought his legislation, known as a discharge petition, at any point during the Joe Biden administration and questioned his colleague’s timing.

“It’s interesting to me that he chose the election of President Trump to bring this — to team up with Democrats to bring this petition,” Johnson mused. “So let me just say this about Thomas Massie … bless his heart.”

The bipartisan discharge petition will likely become ripe for a floor vote in September.

Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee on Monday approved a subpoena for Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former partner and accomplice, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in helping the late financier sexually traffic underage girls.

Maxwell petitioned the Supreme Court in April to review her conviction, arguing she had received an unfair trial.

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