'Bondi needs to explain': US Congress Speaker Mike Johnson calls for release of Epstein files

Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House and close aide of US President Donald Trump, has urged the Justice Department to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, putting him at odds with Donald Trump over an issue stirring anger among the president’s rightwing supporters.

This marks a rare split between Trump and Johnson, a close ally in Congress. Trump is facing increasing criticism from conservatives who expected him to fully reveal what the government knows about Epstein, the disgraced financier who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.

Last week, the Justice Department concluded Epstein’s death was a suicide and stated there was no list of his clients to release, nor would there be any further disclosures about the case. Many conservatives have since attacked Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi, accusing them of keeping secrets about a case Trump once vowed to investigate thoroughly.

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“It’s a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it,” Johnson said in an interview released Tuesday with rightwing podcaster Benny Johnson.

“I agree with the sentiment that we need to put it out there.”

Johnson also referred to Bondi’s earlier statement on Fox News that she had Epstein’s client list “sitting on my desk right now to review.” He said, “She needs to come forward and explain that to everybody. We need the DOJ focusing on major priorities. So let’s get this thing resolved.”

Earlier on Tuesday, House Republicans voted down a Democratic proposal that would have forced the release of Epstein-related files. Still, Democrats are determined to keep pressing the issue. Members of the House Judiciary Committee are demanding that their Republican chairman, Trump ally Jim Jordan, hold a hearing with Bondi, her deputy, and FBI leaders to answer questions about Epstein.

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Meanwhile, Trump has tried to calm the backlash among his MAGA base over the Justice Department’s stance. Over the weekend, he posted on Truth Social:

“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.”