Mike Johnson Lashes Out at the Media: ‘No One In Congress Is Blocking Epstein Documents’
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) tore into the media on Wedsday, claiming that reports saying he was adjourning the House early to avoid a vote on releasing the so-called “Epstein Files” were an “outright lie.”
“Yesterday, some of you may have seen a false headline in the New York Times, and the headline was terribly misleading. It said, House Republicans are, quote, “adjourning until September to avoid a vote on releasing Epstein materials.” I just want you to know, and everybody here knows, that’s an outright lie. It’s not true,” fumed the speaker, adding:
And they were forced to modify their headline and update it today. The reason is, we all know that the initial lie travels much faster than the truth, and so we’re making sure that people know what is actually going on here. I think every single one of your publications have known that the published schedule of Congress was decided in December of 2024 and it’s been published ever since. We are fulfilling the calendar, we’re working, we’ll be working tomorrow, there have been votes every day this week.
Notably, the headline on the New York Times story in question still reads, “Johnson Cuts Short House Business to Avoid Vote on Releasing Epstein Files.” A spokesman for the Times told Mediaite in a statement, “The Times updated this headline for clarity to readers to better understand Congressional procedure and added a similar clarification to a post on X, but our reporting on this development remains thorough, accurate and above all true.”
The Times report also quotes House Republicans making the accusation. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) accused House GOP leaders of “stalling” on the Epstein vote, which would give the Justice Department a firm deadline to release all its materials. “The American people deserve action, not excuses. Let’s vote on it before August recess and get it DONE!!” Norman added on social media on Tuesday.
Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) is also quoted in the article, insisting that his bill on the topic will get a vote sooner or later. “He just told us in there to stick their heads in the sand about this Epstein thing,” Massie said, promising to go through with his vow to force a vote using a discharge petition in September when the House reconvenes.
Johnson continued, arguing that “We have nine or ten committees working through markups this week, many tomorrow. Congress is doing its work; no one is adjourning early.”
“The Times was forced to change the headline because it was completely false. No one in Congress is blocking Epstein documents. No one in Congress is doing that. What we are doing here, Republicans are preventing Democrats from making a mockery of the rules committee process because we refuse to engage in their political charade,” Johnson added.
Watch the clip above via C-SPAN.
