House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) reluctantly agreed to back a petition to release files on sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after many Republican lawmakers indicated they would support it — forcing President Donald Trump to reverse his position.
Just hours before the expected vote on the discharge petition, Johnson announced his support during a GOP conference meeting on Tuesday, according to Axios.
Johnson’s pivot came just 48 hours after Trump said Republicans should vote to release the files. Trump only changed his mind after it became clear that dozens of GOP lawmakers would ignore his demand to vote down the effort.
The support from Johnson comes after he maneuvered for months to prevent a vote on the release of the Epstein files, including beginning the August recess early, keeping the House out of session for two months, and claiming the petition was “moot” because the House Oversight Committee was investigating.
ABC News’ Rachel Scott noted that Trump could order the Department of Justice to release the files himself, rather than waiting for Congress to force the release.
“He’s telling the Congress to do it. I’m not sure what more he could do by way of transparency,” Johnson claimed.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) argued that Trump “could end all the problems instead of just telling the House to vote for it.”
“Release them. Release them now,” he said.
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