On his first full day back in Washington, House Speaker Mike Johnson participated in a significant closed-door interview with six women who have alleged abuse by the late Jeffrey Epstein. Johnson's presence during this critical meeting highlights the growing importance of Epstein’s past crimes within the Republican Party. As September unfolds with intense activity on Capitol Hill, the pressure mounts on House Republicans, who are preparing to take their first major votes aimed at compelling President Donald Trump's administration to release more records related to the Epstein case.
Johnson, like many of his colleagues, is facing mounting pressure from the party's base to ensure transparency without alienating the president. Trump's inner circle has sought to minimize the political fallout from this summer’s revelations concerning Epstein. Following the meeting, House Oversight Chairman James Comer expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “The fact that Mike Johnson sat there for two and a half hours — we’re serious about this. We’re going to do everything we can to make this right.” Johnson himself described the testimonials shared during the meeting as “heartbreaking and infuriating,” revealing that “there were tears in the room. There was outrage.”
Just five weeks prior, Johnson and his leadership team anticipated that allowing lawmakers to return to their districts for August recess would alleviate tensions surrounding Epstein. However, Congress's return has only intensified demands for accountability. This Wednesday, Rep. Thomas Massie and his Democratic counterpart, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, are set to hold a press conference where some survivors of Epstein's abuse are expected to speak publicly for the first time.
Massie and Khanna are spearheading efforts to compel a full House vote on a resolution that would mandate Trump’s Justice Department to release all documents relating to Epstein and his crimes. With the maneuver known as a discharge petition, Massie only needs five more Republican votes to bring the bill to the floor, as every Democrat is expected to support it. So far, two Republicans, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, have shown their willingness to support the initiative.
The House Oversight Committee has been actively investigating Epstein, having previously joined forces with Democrats to issue a subpoena for relevant records from the Justice Department. This past Tuesday, the panel released over 33,000 pages of documents related to the case, which were previously subpoenaed. However, the release of these documents has not quelled the demands for further transparency, which continue to mount on Johnson.
Massie and Democratic leaders noted that most of the released documents had already been made public through various court cases, which has not deterred their push for a comprehensive Epstein resolution. As part of their ongoing investigation, the Oversight Committee hosted a meeting on Tuesday with several survivors preparing to speak at the Wednesday press conference. Several attendees shared harrowing accounts of their abuse, with GOP Rep. Nancy Mace leaving the meeting in tears. One survivor recounted how Epstein had threatened them, claiming they were disposable, and warned them against coming forward due to his powerful connections.
If the bipartisan resolution regarding Epstein passes the House, its progress in the Senate remains uncertain. Such a move would be unprecedented, reflecting a GOP-controlled Congress taking action against a president from its own party. To mitigate potential backlash, Johnson and the White House are attempting to persuade GOP members to support an alternative route. They have endorsed a non-binding resolution that encourages the Oversight Committee’s ongoing investigation.
Johnson emphasized the significance of the committee's work, attending one of its sessions himself. Rep. Greene remarked on Johnson's compassion and thoughtful questioning during the meeting, stating, “I’ve listened to some of his plans that he has going forward. I do think he’s doing a great job there.” Despite this, Greene remains one of the few Republicans willing to defy leadership on the discharge petition, asserting, “I just think we need to do everything we can to bring it out.”
Within the House GOP, some members are expressing apprehension over the ongoing Epstein inquiries, preferring to shift focus to topics like appropriations and tariffs. However, many Republicans acknowledge the vocal faction within their party that insists on seeking more answers regarding Epstein, making it difficult to dismiss the issue. Meanwhile, Democrats are accusing Johnson of attempting to hinder further investigations in Congress.
Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico criticized Johnson for advocating that the investigation remain solely within the Oversight Committee rather than expanding it to involve additional congressional committees. “In the room with six victims of sexual violence by Jeffrey Epstein, it was suggested by Democrats that this be investigated using the full force of every committee here in Congress. And the speaker ended by saying he didn’t think that was necessary,” Stansbury stated.
Following the Tuesday meeting, Johnson pledged to ensure “transparency” in releasing information to the public, aligning with Trump’s perspective on the matter. “That’s his mindset. And he wants the American people to have information so they can draw their own conclusions,” Johnson noted. He further emphasized the importance of protecting innocent victims throughout this process, highlighting the ongoing commitment of both himself and the president.
