Speaker Johnson Pressed On Epstein Files After Starting Recess Early As Massie Pushes Resolution

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At today's House Republican leadership press briefing, Speaker Johnson responded to Rep. Thomas Massie's (R-KY) criticisms surrounding the Epstein Files.

Transcript

00:00impact our districts and our communities. With that, I'll take a few questions.

00:04Mr. Speaker. Good morning. You say yesterday that you were in lockstep with the administration on the Epstein files,

00:10but it doesn't seem that you're in lockstep with all of your House Republicans.

00:14Thomas Massey, you've just seen in the past hours, this is going to come back and bite Republicans.

00:19What do you say to the schisms inside your conference here?

00:23I say Thomas Massey is the one trying to bite Republicans, okay? I'm not quite certain what his strategy is.

00:28But it's just not him. I mean, otherwise you guys wouldn't be calling off the week tomorrow.

00:32You'd be able to put your rules on the floor. I understand the issue with the Democrats.

00:35Yeah, no, I just explained why. We're not going to play political games with this.

00:38We've all been very clear and transparent.

00:42The House rules resolution sets a good standard and requires all credible evidence to be released,

00:49and that's exactly where the White House is.

00:51As I've said many times, there's no daylight between the White House and the House.

00:58You have to allow the legislation to ripen, and you also have to allow the administration the space to do what it is doing.

01:03The president has said clearly, and he has now ordered his DOJ to do what it is we've all needed DOJ to do for years now,

01:11and that is to get everything released.

01:12So they're in the process of that.

01:14But there's no purpose for Congress to push an administration to do something that they're already doing.

01:19And so this is for political games.

01:24I'm very resolute on this.

01:27We can both call for full transparency and also protect victims.

01:31And if you run roughshod or you do it too quickly, that's not what happens.

01:35But I'm convinced that the DOJ is going to do their job, the administration is going to do their job,

01:40and we'll do our job.

01:41And so we'll see to it.

01:42Yes, ma'am.

01:43Yes, ma'am.

01:44Yes, ma'am.

01:45Yes, ma'am.

01:46Yes, ma'am.

01:47Yes, ma'am.

01:48Yes, ma'am.

01:49Yes, ma'am.

01:50Yes, ma'am.

01:51Yes, ma'am.

01:52Yes, ma'am.

01:53Yes, ma'am.

01:54Yes, ma'am.

01:55Yes, ma'am.

01:56Yes, ma'am.

01:57Yes, ma'am.

01:58Yes, ma'am.

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