US House Speaker Mike Johnson has called on the Justice Department to release documents related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, breaking with President Donald Trump over an issue that has stirred discontent among Trump's conservative base. Johnson's remarks, made in an interview with right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson, mark a rare public disagreement between the speaker and the president, who have been close allies.
Johnson stated, 'It's a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it.' He also urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to explain her earlier comment to Fox News that Epstein's client list was 'sitting on my desk right now to review,' saying, 'She needs to come forward and explain that to everybody.'
The call comes after the Justice Department concluded that Epstein's 2019 death was a suicide and that no further disclosures about the case, including a client list, would be made. This has sparked criticism from conservatives who expected Trump to release all information about Epstein, a convicted sex offender who faced sex-trafficking charges before his death.
Trump has sought to calm the furor, writing on Truth Social that the country should not 'waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein.' He defended Bondi but hinted that more documents could be released if she deemed them credible. Meanwhile, Bondi declined to discuss the Epstein case at a press conference focused on drug enforcement, saying, 'Not Epstein. Not going to talk about Epstein.'
Earlier on Tuesday, Republicans voted down a Democratic attempt to require the release of Epstein-related files. Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have demanded a hearing with Bondi, her deputy, and FBI leaders to answer questions about the case.
