House Speaker Mike Johnson has launched a sharp critique against Democratic efforts to release documents connected to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case, characterizing the move as a calculated political strategy aimed at former President Donald Trump.
Political Battle Over Epstein Documents Intensifies
During an appearance on "Fox News Sunday" with host Shannon Bream, the Louisiana Republican asserted that Democrats are rushing toward a vote next week to release Epstein-related files as part of what he called their "entire game plan." Johnson vehemently defended Trump's position in the matter, stating "President Trump has clean hands. He's not worried about it. I talk to him all the time. He has nothing to do with this."
The House Speaker expressed Trump's frustration with what he described as the politicization of the Epstein case, adding that Democrats have "nothing else to talk about" given their perceived lack of accomplishments over the past ten months.
Conflicting Perspectives on Transparency
Johnson's comments came in response to a clip featuring House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who emphasized that "The American people just deserve the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth" regarding the Epstein files. Jeffries had criticized Republicans for previously making the documents a significant issue but now allegedly attempting to suppress the information since returning to power.
When questioned about resistance to releasing the information, particularly given Trump's assertion that the files contain nothing implicating him, Johnson dismissed Jeffries' comments as "comical" and pointed out that the Biden Department of Justice possessed these files for four years without similar demands for transparency from Democratic leaders.
Email Evidence and Ongoing Controversy
The political confrontation centers on email correspondence released on November 12 by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee. These documents reportedly contain allegations from Epstein claiming that Trump "knew about the girls" involved in his extensive sex trafficking network, which victimized numerous underage girls.
Johnson accused Democrats of selectively choosing "three emails out of 20,000 documents" to create implications of Trump's guilt. Meanwhile, Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie have been leading a bipartisan push for full disclosure, with their discharge petition reaching the required 218 signatures last week, forcing a House floor vote on the matter.
Khanna, appearing on NBC News' "Meet the Press," emphasized that the petition drive focuses on "justice for the survivors" of Epstein's crimes rather than targeting Trump specifically. He noted uncertainty about Trump's level of involvement while asserting that the former president is "losing his MAGA base" over the handling of the files.
The controversy continues as the Trump administration faces scrutiny from both supporters and critics regarding its approach to the Epstein documents, particularly after the Justice Department's July memo stating no evidence existed of Epstein maintaining a "client list" or dying from causes other than suicide.
