Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Tuesday mentioned Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi wants to elucidate her statements concerning Jeffrey Epstein after the Division of Justice introduced it will not make any extra disclosures within the case of the late intercourse offender.
The assertion marks a notable break from President Trump, who has stood by his legal professional basic and urged his supporters to drop the matter, whilst Johnson pressured that he trusts the president.
In an interview Tuesday with conservative influencer and commentator Benny Johnson, the Speaker was requested concerning the prospect of Ghislaine Maxwell — Epstein’s one-time girlfriend who was convicted for trafficking younger women — testifying earlier than Congress, or the prospect of subpoenaing paperwork from the Division of Justice concerning the matter.
“I’m for transparency,” Speaker Johnson responded. “We’re intellectually consistent in this. Look, [President] Reagan used tell us, we should trust the American people, and I believe in that principle, and I know President Trump does as well. I trust him. I mean, he put together a team of his choosing, and they’re doing a great job. It’s a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it.”
“The White House and the White House team are privy to facts that I don’t know. I mean, this isn’t my lane, I haven’t been involved in that. But I agree with the sentiment that we need to put it out there,” Johnson mentioned.
Johnson referenced Bondi, when requested on Fox Information early this 12 months about an Epstein consumer record, saying “It’s sitting on my desk right now for review” — an assertion that these indignant along with her subsequent transfer in opposition to disclosure have repeatedly referenced. Bondi has since mentioned she was referring to all of the Epstein recordsdata, not a particular “client list.”
“She needs to come forward and explain that to everybody,” Johnson mentioned. “I like Pam. I mean, think she’s done a good job. We need the DOJ 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 ActBlue and the things the president is most concerned about, as we are.”
The Justice Division and FBI final week asserted in a memo final week that Epstein did die by suicide and didn’t have a consumer record. Officers declined to launch any extra particulars, saying info underneath seal “served only to protect victims and did not expose any additional third-parties to allegations of illegal wrongdoing.”
That call enraged many conservatives, who’ve lengthy seemed to the Epstein matter as a case of the wealthy and highly effective masking up horrendous crimes and had hoped Trump would launch extra info on the case.
Whereas the Speaker is often in lock step with Trump on main points, his assertion marks an uncommon departure from the president’s line.
Trump has urged his supporters to drop the Epstein matter. On Tuesday, he referred to as the Epstein recordsdata of being “made up” by Democrats, and mentioned that Bondi has dealt with the scenario “very well.”
However the conservative base’s fury has endured, inflicting fear — and frustration — amongst Republicans.
“I’m anxious to get this behind us,” Johnson mentioned, lamenting that “we’re having to spend our time talking about this” after Congress despatched Trump’s main tax and spending laws to his desk. “:et’s get it resolved.”
“What Epstein was involved in was an unspeakable evil. We need to stand against it not just in word, but in deed,” Johnson mentioned.
“I do trust the president. I know his heart and his head is in the right place. I don’t question that at all. And I’m convinced they’re going to sort this out.”
