In a significant escalation of a long-running political and public controversy, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Sunday that the upcoming House vote to release Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein will “once and for all” dispel any claims that former President Donald Trump had ties to Epstein’s criminal activity.

Speaking during a televised interview, Johnson emphasized that he fully supports declassifying and releasing a broad tranche of Justice Department documents, arguing that transparency is the only way to cut through years of speculation, rumors, and partisan narratives surrounding Epstein’s decades-long network of abuse and trafficking.

“The American people deserve to see the full record,” Johnson said. “These files should put to rest—definitively—any accusation that President Trump was involved in Epstein’s activities. The evidence has always been clear: Trump had no connection to Epstein’s crimes.”

The announcement comes as the House prepares for a high-stakes vote that would compel the Department of Justice to release thousands of pages of investigative materials, including memos, emails, deposition transcripts, travel logs, and redacted witness statements from the various federal investigations into Epstein and his associates.

Johnson: “No More Rumors. No More Political Weaponization.”

Johnson made it clear that he believes the Epstein case has been used as a political weapon for years, with accusations surfacing every election cycle.

“This issue has been dragged into the political arena again and again,” Johnson said. “People take fragments of information, or they rely on internet conspiracy theories, and they create accusations that have no basis in fact. The documents will show that President Trump did not participate in nor benefit from Epstein’s conduct at any point.”

He added that transparency will “cut off the oxygen” to what he described as politically motivated efforts to tie Trump to Epstein’s criminal enterprise.

“Once these files are made public, the narrative collapses,” Johnson stated. “People will see the truth, not the manipulated versions that get pushed online.”

Political Stakes Rising as Release Nears

The decision to pursue a forced release of the Epstein files comes at a politically sensitive moment, with both major parties preparing for the next election cycle and public pressure growing for accountability around the Epstein case.

Epstein, a financier with far-reaching connections among political leaders, business executives, artists, and royalty, was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. He died in federal custody a month later, sparking widespread speculation and leading to dozens of lingering questions about his associates, enablers, and beneficiaries.

While public attention has frequently turned toward high-profile figures—including former presidents, foreign dignitaries, CEOs, and entertainment icons—Johnson argued that resolving the Trump-Epstein speculation is necessary to “restore credibility and focus” to the broader national discussion.

“Every time Epstein’s name comes up, people try to rewrite history,” Johnson said. “That stops when the documents come out.”

Critics Demand Full Unredacted Release

Democrats and nonpartisan watchdog groups have cautiously welcomed the proposal but warned that the release must be comprehensive, not selective.

“There can’t be any cherry-picking,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD). “If these files come out, they must be released in full context—not in partial form that could mislead the public or protect powerful individuals.”

Civil liberties advocates also raised concerns about protecting the identities of Epstein’s victims, many of whom were minors at the time of the abuse. They urged lawmakers to include safeguards ensuring sensitive personal details remain redacted.

Johnson responded by affirming that victim privacy would remain intact but insisted the core facts of the case must be made public.

“No one wants to retraumatize victims,” he said. “But the public deserves clarity about what did—and did not—happen with the people who crossed Epstein’s path.”

Trump Campaign Welcomes Johnson’s Statement

The Trump campaign issued a rapid response, praising Johnson’s remarks and calling the vote “a major step toward exposing years of politically motivated smears.”

“For years, opponents have spread lies trying to connect President Trump to Jeffrey Epstein,” the statement read. “The truth is simple: President Trump banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago, distanced himself from him decades ago, and had zero involvement in Epstein’s crimes. Transparency will prove that once and for all.”

Campaign officials privately say they hope the document release will neutralize attempts by opponents to revive the Trump-Epstein narrative during the upcoming election cycle.

What Happens Next

The House is expected to vote on the measure in the coming days. If passed, the resolution would compel the Justice Department to produce the Epstein files within a specific timeframe—likely 45 to 60 days—unless the DOJ claims exemptions under national security or ongoing investigation statutes.

Legal analysts caution that the actual release could be complicated by ongoing civil suits, sealed testimony, and agreements made with victims.

Still, Johnson insisted that the majority of the documents “can and should be released without delay.”

“This is about restoring trust,” Johnson said. “The public deserves transparency, and President Trump deserves the truth to be acknowledged.”

A Turning Point in a Long, Shadowed Case

The Epstein case has cast a long shadow over U.S. institutions for years. Johnson’s push represents one of the most aggressive congressional attempts yet to uncover the full picture of who knew what—and when.