House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday claimed, in a striking remark, that Donald Trump had served as an FBI “informant” against Jeffrey Epstein — even as the US president dismissed bipartisan efforts to release all federal files on Epstein as a “Democrat hoax.”Also Read | ‘Time to end Democrat hoax’: Trump calls to close Epstein case; accuses opposition of political agendaJohnson, a Republican ally of Trump, said the president had cooperated with federal authorities “for decades,” dating back to Epstein’s association with Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club. “He’s not saying what Epstein did is a hoax — it’s a terrible, unspeakable evil, and he believes that himself. When he first heard the rumour, he kicked him (Epstein) out of Mar-a-Lago. He was an FBI informant trying to take this down,” Johnson told reporters. He added that Trump “has great sympathy for the women who have suffered these unspeakable harms”.The two had discussed the matter “as recently as 24 hours ago”, he further stated.The White House has not commented on Johnson’s assertion. While Johnson sought to defend Trump, the latter has repeatedly dismissed demands for greater transparency in the Epstein case, insisting the push for full disclosure is “politically motivated.”Bipartisan push for files In Congress, momentum is building for a legislation to declassify the complete Epstein file. Reps. Thomas Massie (Republican; Kentucky.) and Rohit “Ro” Khanna (Democrat; California) are leading a bipartisan bill, with Massie also pushing a discharge petition to force a House vote. Massie said on X that 214 lawmakers had signed the petition — just four short of the 218 required. “I’m 99% certain we’ll get 218,” he wrote, warning that Johnson might try to change House rules to block the vote. So far, only three other Republicans — Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace — have signed on, CNN reported. Survivors, frustrated by government inaction, have threatened to compile their own list of Epstein’s alleged associates.Massie further suggested that while survivors’ private list may not appear “any time soon,” lawmakers could use congressional immunity to disclose names on the House floor.
