House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday he will vote “yes” on a bill to compel the Justice Department to release files related to the sex crimes of Jeffrey Epstein.
Johnson previously opposed the discharge petition led by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna to force a vote on the matter, calling their effort “not necessary.” But after President Donald Trump reversed course on Sunday and encouraged Republicans to back the bill, Johnson now said he will vote “yes” on the underlying legislation.
Still, Johnson argued the petition is being used by Democrats as a way to attack Trump.
“He has said himself he has nothing to hide,” Johnson said. “They’re trying to attack President Trump.”
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Other senior Republican leaders will join Johnson in voting “yes.” Majority Leader Steve Scalise told reporters Tuesday morning that he, too, will support the bill, adding that the leadership is not whipping the legislation. Multiple House Republicans have told NOTUS that they expect the vote later Tuesday will be nearly — if not totally — unanimous.
Massie said earlier Tuesday the petition has nothing to do with politics. Several victims of Epstein expressed their frustration with Trump, who, until recently, was opposed to the petition.
Massie said he believed Trump was covering up for “friends and donors” and that Johnson was only voting in support of the petition to “save face.”
Johnson told reporters that he spoke to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who said the Senate would look to add additional protections for victims when it takes up the legislation. (Massie said earlier Tuesday that the additional protections are not needed, are not being asked for by survivors, and are likely just another tactic to delay the process.)
“I have a high degree of confidence in that,” Johnson said of the Senate addressing the concerns he and many Republicans say they have about the petition. “That’s why I’ll be voting ‘yes’ today.”
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