Mike Johnson accuses Democrats of ‘politicizing’ Jeffrey Epstein investigation
House speaker Mike Johnson also chimes in on the “Democrats’ endless efforts to politicize the Epstein controversy and the whole investigation”.
Key events
Key takeaways from Mike Johnson press conference
Keen to put on a show of Republican unity and blame the Democrats for the ongoing Epstein furore, which the Trump administration is very much struggling to contain, House speaker Mike Johnson sought to reaffirm Donald Trump’s commitment to “transparency” and securing the release of all “credible” evidence relating to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
“I believe in maximum transparency,” Johnson said, later adding:
The president himself has said that he wants maximum transparency and all credible evidence to be turned over to the American public, so that everyone can make their own decisions. We’re owed that.
He attacked what he called the “Democrats’ endless efforts to politicize the Epstein controversy and the whole investigation”, accusing the opposition of a “charade” and playing “political games”, conveniently ignoring the fact that a lot of the heat on Trump’s administration is actually coming from his own party and support base.
Indeed, asked about Republican Thomas Massie and his discharge petition to release the Epstein files, Johnson accused him of “seeming to enjoy inflicting pain on [his] own teammates”. He went on:
I don’t understand Thomas Massie‘s motivation. I really don’t. I don’t know how his mind works … Thomas Massie could have brought his discharge petition anytime over the last four and a half years.
If there was any room left for doubt about Johnson’s frustration with his colleague, he ended with a very southern form of derision, saying of Massie: “Bless his heart.”
Oversight committee votes to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell over Epstein files
The House oversight subcommittee has approved a motion to issue a subpoena for imprisoned Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell to testify before Congress.
The motion was offered by Republican congressman Tim Burchett, of Tennessee, during a hearing of the subcommittee on government operations. According to Axios, Burchett said he did not consult Donald Trump, who has been trying to put the controversy to bed, beforehand.
Oversight committee chair, Republican congressman James Comer of Kentucky, directed Burchett to introduce the motion and will seek to subpoena Maxwell “as expeditiously as possible”, a committee spokesperson told Axios.
Comer told Axios he also did not speak with Trump or House speaker Mike Johnson about the matter.
The motion passed by a voice vote, with only four members – three Republicans and one Democrat – present.
Earlier this morning, deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said he would will meet with Maxwell in the next several days.
With the floor paralyzed over the Epstein crisis, House GOP leaders have canceled its scheduled Thursday votes.
The House’s last votes before August recess are now scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. The House now won’t vote again until 2 September.
Johnson accuses the Democrats of playing “political games” and a “charade” over the Epstein case.
Johnson says ‘credible evidence’ will be revealed
“We have to make sure that the credible evidence is revealed and we’re doing that,” says Johnson.
Johnson goes on:
The president himself has said that he wants maximum transparency and all credible evidence to be turned over to the American public, so that everyone can make their own decisions. We’re owed that.”
He says there is a dual responsibility between wanting transparency and also protecting Epstein’s victims.
“We have to do both things at the same time,” Johnson says.
“I believe in maximum transparency,” says Johnson.
Mike Johnson accuses Democrats of ‘politicizing’ Jeffrey Epstein investigation
House speaker Mike Johnson also chimes in on the “Democrats’ endless efforts to politicize the Epstein controversy and the whole investigation”.
House majority leader Steve Scalise just repeated the Trump administration’s usual claims about the Democrats “covering up” the Epstein files and highlights efforts to get court documents unsealed (Donald Trump has asked US attorney general Pam Bondi to seek the release grand jury testimony related to the criminal prosecution).
“We’re going to continue pushing for that transparency,” Scalise says.
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