In a surprising move that’s rattling Washington, House Speaker Mike Johnson has come out in favor of releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files—putting himself at odds with the Trump administration’s official position that no such “client list” exists.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by conservative commentator Benny Johnson, the powerful Republican leader called for greater transparency around the sealed files tied to Epstein and his convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
Asked directly whether he would support a congressional subpoena to bring Maxwell before lawmakers, Speaker Johnson didn’t hesitate: “I’m for transparency,” he said. “It’s a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide.”
Johnson hinted he would support congressional subpoenas targeting the FBI and Department of Justice to hand over any unreleased records. While he emphasized that he hasn’t been deeply involved in the case, the speaker suggested the public deserves answers:
“The White House is privy to facts that I don’t know. But I agree with the sentiment that we need to put it out there.”
He even referenced Attorney General Pam Bondi’s earlier remarks claiming Epstein-related files were “on her desk,” remarks now under intense scrutiny after the DOJ’s recent memo stated definitively that no client list exists.
“She needs to come forward and explain that to everybody… I’m anxious to get this behind us,” Johnson said.
The speaker’s stance diverges sharply from President Trump’s recent public posture. Just last week, Trump appeared visibly irritated when a reporter brought up Epstein. He later posted on Truth Social, suggesting public interest in the case was overblown, writing:
“All over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein…”
But mounting pressure from Trump’s base—who were promised transparency during the campaign—has begun to shift the narrative.
Even Trump, in a recent comment, nodded toward possible document releases:
“I would like to see that also… But the credibility is very important,” he said, praising Bondi’s handling of the matter.
Still, critics say the back-and-forth and denial of a client list contradict past statements. Bondi herself has gone silent, stating only, “Our memo speaks for itself.”
Calls for Maxwell to testify are now echoing through the halls of Congress. Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said Tuesday,
“I fully support transparency on this issue. I also think Pam Bondi is doing a great job.”
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) added,
“If [Maxwell] were to testify, I think she could answer a lot of questions that would put this into perspective.”
The GOP divide became glaring Monday night when Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) joined Democrats in voting for an amendment that would force Bondi to release the Epstein documents within 30 days. The effort narrowly failed in committee, with Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) abstaining.
Both Norman and Roy are members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, a group that has often campaigned on promises to “drain the swamp”—and many of their supporters are now demanding to know who exactly swam in Epstein’s circle.
Democrats, meanwhile, are seizing the moment. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who authored the failed amendment, told the Daily Mail:
“They should release the files and let the chips fall where they may—for Democrats or Republicans.”
Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) echoed the sentiment:
“Either they were lying from the get-go, or they’re covering something up that they don’t want to get out.”
As Republicans feud over transparency and the White House plays defense, the question remains: will the American public ever see the full Epstein file—or will it remain locked away forever?