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House Speaker Mike Johnson has issued a clarification after initially describing former President Donald Trump as an “FBI informant” in the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking activities.
The Louisiana Republican’s remarks come amid intensifying pressure from Democrats and some Republicans for the release of additional documents related to the late financier’s case, which has long been shrouded in conspiracy theories.
In a statement to reporters on Capitol Hill last week, Johnson addressed Trump’s repeated characterization of the Epstein saga as a “Democrat hoax.”
He emphasized that Trump was not dismissing the crimes themselves but rather accusing Democrats of exploiting the issue for political gain.
“He’s not saying what Epstein did was a hoax.
It’s a terrible, unspeakable evil, and he believes that himself,” Johnson said on September 5.
“When he first heard the rumor, he kicked him out of Mar-a-Lago.
He was an informant to try to take this stuff down.
The president knows and has great sympathy for the women who have suffered these unspeakable harms.
It’s detestable to him… What he’s talking about is the Democrats who are doing this with impure motives.”
Clarifying Trump’s Involvement
However, Johnson’s office quickly walked back the specific claim about Trump serving as an informant.
A spokesperson told The Independent on Monday: “The Speaker is reiterating what the victims’ attorney said, which is that Donald Trump — who kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago — was the only one more than a decade ago willing to help prosecutors expose Epstein for being a disgusting child predator.”
The clarification references statements from Brad Edwards, an attorney representing many of Epstein’s accusers.
Edwards noted that in 2009, Trump had assisted his investigation by providing information over the phone, though he did not specify cooperation with federal prosecutors or law enforcement.
“He got on the phone, he told me things that were helping our investigation,” Edwards said.
“Our investigation wasn’t looking into him, but he was helping us then.”
Edwards also highlighted what he described as Trump’s “about-face” on the issue.
“And now it seems like all of a sudden somebody is in his ear, and he’s not,” he added, urging Trump to realign with the victims’ side.
Victims Demand Accountability
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of congressional testimony from Epstein’s survivors, who shared harrowing accounts of abuse facilitated by the financier and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking convictions.
Victims like Chauntae Davies accused Epstein of receiving a “free pass” and boasting about powerful connections, including Trump.
Another survivor, Haley Robson, a registered Republican, extended a direct invitation to Trump: “I cordially invite you to the Capitol to meet me in person so you can understand this is not a hoax.”
Epstein’s 2019 death in jail while awaiting trial has fueled persistent speculation of a cover-up to shield influential figures.
Trump and Epstein’s relationship, which dated back over a decade, reportedly soured in 2004 over a property dispute in Palm Beach, Florida, though Trump has recently claimed it was due to Epstein poaching workers from Mar-a-Lago.
Resistance to Further Document Disclosure
The Trump administration has faced criticism for resisting further document releases.
The Department of Justice earlier this year stated there is “no basis to revisit the disclosure of those materials,” deeming no further action “appropriate or warranted.”
The White House maintains that “thousands of pages of documents have been given” and accuses Democrats of ignoring victims for years only to weaponize the case against Trump.
“The president has always been committed to justice and transparency for these victims,” a White House statement read.
Meanwhile, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee has released 30,000 pages of Justice Department documents, though most were already public.
Bipartisan efforts, including from Democrats and a handful of Republicans, continue to advocate for legislation compelling fuller transparency.
As the debate rages, Epstein’s accusers remain focused on accountability, urging all parties to prioritize survivors over politics.
The push for documents persists, with hopes that greater disclosure could finally address lingering questions about the extent of Epstein’s network and any potential protections afforded to those involved.
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