Mike Johnson Exploits the Shutdown To Hide the Epstein Files

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Mike Johnson Exploits the Shutdown To Hide the Epstein Files
by Amanda Marcotte | October 21, 2025 - 5:07am

— from Salon


Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is lying. Yes, I know. Writing that is like writing “cats are furry” or “it’s pumpkin spice season.” But the current purpose of the lie is even more depraved than we usually get from this self-proclaimed beacon of Christian morality. The purpose is silencing the victims of infamous child sex predator Jeffrey Epstein and his alleged fellow abusers. Worse, it’s all done to protect President Donald Trump, a man who was already found by a civil jury in New York to have sexually abused journalist E. Jean Carroll in a department store dressing room.

The Louisiana Republican has already gone to great lengths to make sure FBI files chronicling the alleged misdeeds of Epstein and his associates never see the light of day. In July, Johnson started the House’s summer recess early to avoid Democrats bringing up a bill that would force the Justice Department to release the voluminous files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The reason for Johnson’s action wasn’t mysterious. Trump, whom Epstein called his “closest friend,” is reportedly in the files. According to a lewd birthday message attributed to Trump by the Wall Street Journal — that was leaked by House Democrats — Trump wrote to his longtime buddy, “We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.”

There is allegedly more. During Attorney General Pam Bondi’s recent Senate hearing, for instance, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., asked about “photos of President Trump with half-naked young women.” Bondi refused to answer.

Now Johnson has found another excuse to block a House vote to release the Epstein files: The government shutdown. The speaker has adjourned the House and refused to seat Rep.-Elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., blaming the shutdown — despite the fact that the Senate is still open and holding votes. Grijalva has pledged to be the deciding vote on a discharge petition to release the Epstein files. In comments to the Arizona Republic, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., was blunt in assessing the situation: “Speaker Johnson is protecting pedophiles. That’s what this is all about.”

Johnson has denied the charge, but his pattern of behavior is clear. He knows that if Trump turns against him, he would likely lose the speakership. Hiding the Epstein files appears to be Johnson’s first priority, even above reopening the government so federal employees can be paid.

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http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/amanda-marcotte/115215/mike-johnson-exploits-the-shutdown-to-hide-the-epstein-files