Home Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday urged Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi to “come ahead and clarify” the Trump administration’s dealing with of Jeffrey Epstein recordsdata.
In an interview with podcaster Benny Johnson, the speaker urged Bondi to additional make clear her previous remark about reviewing Epstein’s alleged “shopper checklist.”
“Pam Bondi, I do not know when she initially made the assertion. I believe she was speaking about paperwork, as I understood, that they have been on her desk. I do not know that she was particular a couple of checklist or no matter, however she wants to return ahead and clarify that to everyone,” Johnson mentioned.
“I like Pam. I imply, I believe she’s completed an excellent job. We want the DOJ specializing in the most important priorities,” Johnson mentioned through the interview.
Speaker of the Home Mike Johnson arrives for a information convention on the Republican Nationwide Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C., on July 15, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Bondi got here beneath hearth over her feedback to Fox Information in February when requested about Epstein’s alleged “shopper checklist.” She informed the outlet on the time, “It is sitting on my desk proper now to assessment.”
After the Justice Division and FBI final week acknowledged they discovered no proof the deceased financier stored a “shopper checklist” of associates whom he blackmailed or conspired with to victimize dozens of girls, Bondi mentioned her feedback to Fox Information have been merely referring to a “file” on Epstein.
That clarification, although, has completed little to quell outrage from MAGA supporters on the administration’s dealing with of Epstein.
Johnson additionally weighed in on rising calls from Republican lawmakers to have Epstein’s convicted affiliate, Ghislaine Maxwell, testify earlier than Congress.
“I am for transparency. We’re intellectually constant on this” Johnson mentioned when requested about Maxwell probably testifying earlier than Congress.
Johnson mentioned whereas he isn’t “aware about info” and “this is not my lane,” he additionally mentioned “we have to put it on the market.”
Sen. Josh Hawley speaks to the media, whereas he exits a Senate GOP lunch, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., June 28, 2025.
Annabelle Gordon/Reuters, FILE
“We’ll see what occurs. I do belief the president. I do know his coronary heart and head is in the fitting place. I do not query that in any respect. I’m satisfied they’re going to kind this out,” the speaker mentioned.
Tennessee Republican Rep. Tim Burchett informed ABC Information he’s “not pleased” with how Bondi has dealt with the Epstein matter. Like Johnson, he known as on Bondi to clarify her previous feedback on the “shopper checklist.”
“, I do know it is the 1,000-pound gorilla within the room, however I am not pleased. No one’s pleased about it. No one is aware of what is going on on,” Burchett mentioned.
Later in a letter despatched Tuesday, Burchett known as on Home Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer to ask Maxwell to testify in a public listening to.
“Ought to Ms. Maxwell refuse the invitation, I encourage you to make use of subpoena powers,” Burchett wrote within the letter, saying the American folks have “questions” concerning the Epstein case. “It’s properly past time these questions are answered,” he mentioned.
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri mentioned the Epstein recordsdata ought to be made public and straight known as for Maxwell to seem earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“I believe all these things must be public. I imply, I believe the entire all of the paperwork, ought to all be public,” Hawley mentioned. “I believe we might all must be out within the open. I am an enormous fan of declassifying– I believe this is not technically categorized. It is simply, you already know, shut maintain for prosecution, however I believe we must put all of it on the market.”
“I believe it is affordable for the American folks to ask who he [Epstein] intercourse trafficked these younger girls to — if anyone moreover himself,” added Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy. “And if there have been others concerned, why have not they been prosecuted? That is a superbly comprehensible query, and I believe the Justice Division goes to should reply it.”
Late Tuesday afternoon, Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie mentioned he plans to pursue a procedural gambit to set off a Home vote on laws that might pressure the discharge of the “full” Epstein recordsdata.
Massie plans to supply a discharge petition, which requires 218 signatures and permits the vast majority of the chamber to avoid GOP leaders. There would solely be ground motion if the decision receives sufficient assist. A ready interval of seven legislative days kicks off as soon as the petition has sufficient signatures, so this might change into a headache for GOP leaders after August recess.
“All of us should know what’s within the Epstein recordsdata, who’s implicated, and the way deep this corruption goes. Individuals have been promised justice and transparency. We’re introducing a discharge petition to pressure a vote within the US Home of Representatives on releasing the COMPLETE recordsdata,” Massie mentioned in a put up on X.
GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, additionally talking to the podcaster Benny Johnson in a separate interview, mentioned she would assist making a particular counsel to research the Epstein matter.
“There must be a particular investigation into this if we aren’t going to be offered data,” she mentioned.
Boebert additionally had a suggestion for who ought to lead the probe.
“Matt Gaetz as a particular counsel? Completely,” she mentioned. Gaetz, a former GOP congressman from Florida, was as soon as the topic of a multiyear federal sex-trafficking investigation. Gaetz had lengthy denied any wrongdoing and the probe ended with no prices in opposition to Gaetz.
In the meantime, Democrats within the Home on Tuesday tried to pressure a vote and debate on California Rep. Ro Khanna’s modification that might have demanded the discharge of all of the Epstein recordsdata. Their effort failed by only one vote after a virtually 45-minute vote.
Home Judiciary Democrats penned a letter to committee chairman Jim Jordan on Tuesday demanding a listening to with Trump administration officers from the DOJ and FBI on the Epstein recordsdata.
Jordan, although, publicly expressed unwavering assist
“I’ve complete confidence in President Tump and his workforce,” Jordan informed ABC Information when requested if he had any questions concerning the Epstein case or if Bondi mishandled the state of affairs.
Rep. Jim Jordan prepares for a tv interview throughout a procedural vote on the One Large Lovely Invoice Act within the U.S. Capitol on July 2, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photographs
