U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday that the upcoming vote on releasing Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein could help put to rest allegations linking former President Donald Trump to the late sex offender’s abuse and trafficking of underage girls.
“They’re doing this to go after President Trump on this theory that he has something to do with it. He does not,” Johnson, the Republican leader in the House, told Fox News Sunday.
Johnson argued that Democrats have centered their political strategy around the Epstein case. “Epstein is their entire game plan, so we’re going to take that weapon out of their hands,” he said. “Let’s just get this done and move on. There’s nothing to hide.”
Trump and Epstein were photographed together decades ago, though the former president has consistently said the two men had fallen out well before Epstein’s convictions.
In addition, Trump has instructed the Department of Justice to investigate prominent Democrats’ ties to Epstein, signaling a broader political focus beyond his own involvement.
The push for the release of additional Epstein-related documents has been a key issue for Trump, including during his presidential campaigns. However, it has also created tension among some of his allies in Congress.
On Friday, Trump withdrew his support for U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, one of his most ardent congressional backers. The move came after Greene publicly criticized Republican leadership on issues including the handling of the Epstein files.
Greene appeared on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, where she said she does not believe the unreleased files would implicate Trump. She, however, emphasized the need for transparency.
“I don’t believe that rich, powerful people should be protected if they have done anything wrong,” Greene said, reinforcing her longstanding position on accountability for high-profile figures.
The ongoing debate over the Epstein files underscores the political sensitivity surrounding the case, which continues to attract attention from both parties. With the vote approaching, Republicans and Democrats alike are weighing the potential impact of the documents on public perception and political strategy.
