House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested that President Donald Trump could ultimately decide not to sign a bill requiring the Justice Department to make public its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act is headed to Trump’s desk after both the House and Senate approved it on Tuesday. The legislation would mandate the public release of the government’s Epstein records.
Trump has previously signaled that he intends to sign the bill. However, Johnson told reporters that Trump was “deeply disappointed” the Senate advanced the measure without any changes, adding that both he and the president “have concerns” about the final version.
Asked directly whether Trump might veto the bill, Johnson replied: “I’m not saying that, I don’t know.”
Why This Matters
The Epstein files have been a recurring political issue for the Trump administration. Trump once called for their release on the campaign trail, then later backed away from that position, drawing criticism and renewed demands for transparency.
Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and has said their relationship soured in the early 2000s. Still, on Wednesday lawmakers released more than 20,000 pages of Epstein-related documents, some of which referenced Trump, putting fresh attention on his past ties to the disgraced financier.
This renewed focus comes years after Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Read more: Uncommon Knowledge: On Epstein, Trump Has a Biden-Era Escape Hatch
What the Bill Would Do
Earlier this year, Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, filed a petition to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files. The resulting bill directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to publish all materials related to Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell within 30 days of the law taking effect.
The documents covered include internal Justice Department communications, investigative materials, flight logs and any other Epstein-related records in the department’s possession.
The House passed the measure 427-1 on Tuesday, with only Republican Clay Higgins of Louisiana opposing it. The Senate then moved the bill forward on an expedited basis without holding a formal roll-call vote.
Trump has in the past dismissed the Epstein files as “a Democratic hoax,” but on Sunday he urged Republicans to join Democrats in voting to release them.
Johnson supported the bill but later told reporters he was “deeply disappointed in this outcome.”
“It needed amendments,” he said. “I just spoke to the president about that—we’ll see what happens.”
Pressed again on whether Trump might veto the measure, Johnson said: “I’m not saying that, I don’t know.” He added: “We both have concerns.”
How Officials and Lawmakers Are Reacting
Speaking to Newsweek, Thomas Gift, an associate professor of political science and director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, said: “There’s so much momentum behind releasing the Epstein files at this point that reversing course would amount to a major U-turn for Trump—and one that would carry real political consequences. If Trump were suddenly to block release, it would raise overwhelming questions about motive and fuel speculation that could be more damaging than whatever is actually in the files.”
Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, wrote on X: “The president has said he will sign the Epstein Files Transparency Act that I introduced & @RepThomasMassie led the discharge petition. The Swamp is trying to get it amended in the Senate. Anyone who tried to amend a bill POTUS says he will sign is betraying the survivors.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday: “These emails prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong.”
What Happens Next
It remains uncertain whether Trump will ultimately sign the legislation or choose to veto it. If he approves the bill, the Justice Department will be under a tight deadline to release the Epstein files—and both the content of those documents and Trump’s decision on the bill are likely to face intense public and political scrutiny.
