House Speaker Mike Johnson made it clear he supports Ghislaine Maxwell testifying before Congress and is calling on the Department of Justice to release everything it has on Jeffrey Epstein.
Johnson’s remarks came during a conversation with political commentator Benny Johnson, where the two discussed rising public frustration over unanswered questions surrounding Epstein’s sex trafficking network and the people connected to it. The issue has become a flashpoint online, fueled by years of redacted documents, mysterious deaths, and high-profile silence.
“I’m for transparency,” Johnson said. “We should put everything out there and let the people decide.”
Johnson acknowledged the deep distrust many Americans now feel toward federal institutions.
“This is one of those pressure-cooker issues,” he said. “People feel like they’ve been lied to by their government for so long, and this case touches a nerve.”
He didn’t shy away from the idea of Maxwell testifying before Congress, either — something GOP members like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Anna Paulina Luna have pushed for.
“I haven’t spoken with Marjorie or Anna about that specific issue,” Johnson admitted, “but I agree with the spirit of what they’re doing. I believe in Reagan’s old line: trust the American people. They can handle the truth.”
Johnson also called on Attorney General Pamela Bondi to clear the air about what’s really happening behind the scenes. In February, Bondi released a portion of the Epstein files, revealing Epstein abused over 250 underage girls, but much remains sealed — including names and potential ties to powerful figures.
“Pam needs to come forward and explain to the American people exactly what she meant,” Johnson said, referencing her earlier statements about documents being “on her desk.” “I like Pam. I think she’s doing a good job — but let’s be honest: we need clarity.”
Johnson’s comments come at a time when his own party is under fire for blocking a House amendment just this week that would’ve forced the full release of the Epstein files. Critics have pointed to the contradiction — public support for transparency, but procedural moves that seem to delay it.
Still, Johnson says his focus is on resolving the matter so that the DOJ can concentrate on what he sees as more pressing priorities: violent crime, election integrity, and what he described as the need to investigate liberal fundraising platforms like ActBlue.
“Let’s get this behind us,” he said. “The DOJ needs to be focused on the big stuff, but the American people deserve closure on this.”
As conspiracy theories and skepticism continue to swirl around the Epstein case — especially in the wake of his controversial death in 2019 and the inconsistencies noted in a 2023 forensic report — Speaker Johnson’s support for full disclosure may signal a shift in tone from Republican leadership.
“I’m anxious to get this behind us,” Johnson said. “But to do that, we have to shine a light on it. All of it.”
Whether that light ever fully reaches the darkest corners of the Epstein files remains to be seen. But for now, Johnson is joining a growing chorus calling for it.