'It's Not a Hoax': Mike Johnson Breaks From Trump on Epstein Saga Despite Shutting Down the House to Avoid Vote

House Speaker Mike Johnson is distancing himself from Donald Trump's dismissal of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, saying he does not consider the case a hoax and wants full transparency.

In an interview with CBS News, Johnson made clear that he supports efforts to uncover more about the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associates.

"We want full transparency. We want everybody who is involved in any way with the Epstein evils — let's call it what it was — to be brought to justice as quickly as possible. We want the full weight of the law on their heads," Johnson said.

When asked directly whether he agreed with Trump's claim that the case was a hoax, he replied, "It's not a hoax. Of course not."

The remarks come amid growing division within the GOP over how to handle lingering questions about Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges. A Justice Department review found no evidence of a client list or blackmail operation and ruled Epstein's death a suicide, effectively closing the case. But that conclusion has not satisfied many of Trump's own supporters, many of whom are demanding the full release of Epstein-related materials.

This isn't the first time Johnson has seemingly turned on Trump administration's handling of the controversy. Last week, the Speaker told Benny Johnson, "We should put everything out there and let the people decide. Pam Bondi needs to come forward and explain it to the American people. Let's get this thing resolved."

Earlier in the week, Johnson cut the House session short, sending members home one day early for August recess. The decision blocked a potential vote led by Democrats and some Republicans to subpoena the Justice Department for additional Epstein records. Johnson defended the move, accusing Democrats of "political gamesmanship," but acknowledged public frustration. "I have the same concern and question that a lot of people do," he told CBS.

Trump, meanwhile, has dismissed the controversy entirely. "Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bullshit,' hook, line, and sinker. They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will," he wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Despite the Trump administration's request for courts to unseal grand jury records related to Epstein, a Florida judge recently denied one such request, citing legal limits on releasing materials from Epstein's early cases. Requests tied to later federal investigations remain pending.