Photo: Alamy
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson delivered an update on the “Epstein Files Transparency Act,” explaining that he expects the U.S. Senate to amend the legislation to ensure the privacy of potential victims or survivors.
“I’m very confident that when this moves forward in the process, if and when it is processed in the Senate…that they will take the time, methodically, to do what we have not been allowed to do in the House: to amend this discharge petition and to make sure that these protections are there,” Speaker Johnson said during a press conference.
If the legislation is indeed amended in the Senate – providing it passes the House, and it is expected to do so easily – then it will have to return to the House for a final vote approving the changes.
Speaker Johnson also indicated on Tuesday that he would vote for the legislation.
“I think it could be close to a unanimous vote, because everybody here, all the Republicans, want to go on record to show their maximum transparency,” he stated. “But they also want to note that we’re demanding that this stuff get corrected before it was ever moved through the process and is complete.”
The documents in question are related to the Department of Justice’s investigation into the late convicted sex offender and notorious financier Jeffrey Epstein. President Donald Trump recently announced his support for releasing the “Epstein Files,” as they are more commonly called, noting that Republicans “have nothing to hide.”
The president has accused Democrats of using this “hoax” to distract from Republicans’ gains this year under his leadership.
“It’s a Democrat Hoax for purposes of deflection, just like the Russia, Russia, Russia Scam!!! They had the sleazy relationships with Epstein, and should be prosecuted!!!” he wrote in a previous statement.