‘Put everything out': US Speaker calls for Epstein documents release, clashes with Trump stance

Indian Express

5 days ago

US House Speaker Mike Johnson has urged the Department of Justice to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, marking a rare divergence from President Donald Trump and pointing to the growing dissatisfaction among conservatives over the case's opacity.
The comments come amid backlash from Trump's rightwing base following the Justice Department's conclusion last week that Epstein died by suicide and that no list of clients would be made public. Trump, who previously campaigned on exposing Epstein's network, has since downplayed the issue.
'It's a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it,' Johnson said in an interview with rightwing podcaster Benny Johnson released Tuesday, The Guardian reported. 'I agree with the sentiment that we need to put it out there.'
Johnson specifically referenced Attorney General Pam Bondi's earlier remarks to Fox News that Epstein's 'client list' was 'sitting on my desk right now to review.'
'She needs to come forward and explain that to everybody,' Johnson said. 'We need the DoJ focusing on the major priorities. So let's get this thing resolved.'
While House Republicans rejected a Democratic effort on Tuesday to add language to legislation requiring Epstein-related files to be made public, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are pushing for hearings with Bondi, her deputy Kash Patel, and FBI leadership.
Trump, seeking to defuse outrage among his supporters, wrote on Truth Social over the weekend: 'One year ago our Country was DEAD, now it's the 'HOTTEST' Country anywhere in the World. Let's keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about.'
Speaking earlier Tuesday before leaving for Pittsburgh, Trump defended Bondi but hinted that some information could still be released.
'She's handled it very well, and it's going to be up to her. Whatever she thinks is credible, she should release,' he said.
Bondi, meanwhile, avoided questions on Epstein during a press conference focused on fentanyl overdoses.
'Today is about fentanyl overdoses throughout our country and people who have lost loved ones to fentanyl,' she told reporters. 'That's the message that we're here to send today. Not Epstein. Not going to talk about Epstein.'
Speaking to NBC News later, Bondi also dismissed questions about MAGA base frustrations over the investigation:
'We're going to fight to keep America safe again,' she said. 'We're fighting together as a team… We've got a war on drugs. We've got a war on human trafficking, we've got cartels in this country… we have got foreign adversaries around this world as well, and we're all going to work together as a team.'
Asked about Trump's comments that she should release 'whatever she thinks is credible,' Bondi responded:
'Today, our memo speaks for itself. We'll get back to you on anything else. I haven't seen all of his statements today.'