Mike Johnson: ‘Outright Lie’ That Republicans Are Avoiding a Vote on Releasing the Epstein Files

Johnson: “Some of you may have seen a false headline in ‘The New York Times,’ and the headline was terribly misleading. It said, House Republicans are, quote, ‘adjourning until September to avoid a vote on releasing Epstein materials.’ I just want you to know, and everybody here knows, that’s an outright lie. It’s not true. And they were forced to modify their headline and update it today. The reason is, we all know that the initial lie travels much faster than the truth, and so we’re making sure that people know what is actually going on here. I think every single one of your publications have known that the published schedule of Congress was decided in December of 2024, and it’s been published ever since. We are fulfilling the calendar. We’re working. We’ll be working tomorrow. There have been votes every day this week. We have nine or 10 committees working through markups this week, many tomorrow. Congress is doing its work. No one is adjourning early.

We have an August district work period that is very important to the function of Congress, that has been recognized for all of memory of this institution, and that is what everyone will be doing. ‘The Times’ was forced to change the headline because it was completely false. No one in Congress is blocking Epstein documents. No one in Congress is doing that. What we’re doing here, Republicans, are preventing Democrats from making a mockery of the Rules Committee process because we refuse to engage in their political charade. That is what is happening, and nothing more. The way Democrats have tried to weaponize this issue is absolutely shameless. And I just want to say this: Democrats said nothing and did nothing, absolutely nothing, about bringing transparency for the entire four years of the Biden presidency. But now, all of a sudden, they want the American people to believe that they actually care. Their actions belie their words.

We will not be lectured on transparency by the same party that orchestrated one of the most shameless, dangerous political cover-ups in the history of the United States, and that was President Biden’s obvious mental decline. House Republicans stand for maximum transparency and truth. We always have, and we always will. We’re in lockstep with President Trump and his administration on this issue. We are pushing for the release of all credible information to be released with regard to the Epstein matter. I would note also that there are real issues, legal issues, with the Khanna resolution, with the Massie resolution. Khanna’s has no protection whatsoever for the victims of these horrible, unspeakable sex crimes. And Massie’s doesn’t go far enough. Additionally, the president has directed the Department of Justice to pursue the release of grand jury information — and that is happening as we speak. In fact, the court is processing the DoJ’s request for grand jury materials as we are standing here right now. That’s a very important step.

We’ll evaluate any necessary measures that Congress needs to undertake when that process is completed. I’m convinced the administration is thoroughly reviewing all materials and working to release all credible information, while also providing protection for victims. And I’ve been very clear and on the record many times that we have an obligation to do that, a legal obligation and a moral obligation to protect the people who have been the victims of these unspeakable crimes so that their names are not drugged through the mud. That’s a fine needle to thread, and I’m convinced that the people who are in charge with this are doing it the right way, judiciously. The Trump Administration is working through the court to unseal those documents. Most of the Epstein files are under court order and sealed, so you have to go through that route to do it. All that credible information needs to come out, but they deserve the space to do that in the way that it is supposed to be done, and they are, a thorough, judicious, meticulous review to truly protect innocent people who suffered.”