House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was on the ropes Sunday morning as NBC’s Kristen Welker pressed him over suspicions that he’s stalling a key vote to block the release of documents tied to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
During a tense segment on Meet the Press, Welker pointed out the glaring optics: Johnson had shut down the House of Representatives just as a newly elected Democratic congresswoman from Arizona—whose vote could be decisive in unsealing Epstein-related files—was set to be sworn in.
“And as you know, many Democrats have looked at your move,” Welker said. “They say the House is not in session because you don’t want to swear in this newly elected member, the Congresswoman, Democratic Congresswoman from Arizona, who would be a critical vote to releasing the Epstein files.”
Johnson immediately lashed out.
“It’s totally absurd!” he snapped. “This has nothing to do with that. It’s another red herring.”
But rather than explain why he hasn’t called the House back into session—something entirely within his power—Johnson deflected and shifted blame to Senate Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown.
“The reason the government is closed is because Chuck Schumer and 43 of his Democrat colleagues in the Senate have decided now to vote multiple times to keep the government closed,” he claimed. “We need them to turn the lights back on so that everyone can do their work.”
He didn’t stop there. In a strange turn, Johnson tried to drag the conversation into political theater, suggesting Schumer’s actions are about protecting himself from a primary challenge.
“They’re doing this to get political cover because Chuck Schumer is afraid that he won’t win his next re-election bid to the Senate because it’s going to be challenged by a Marxist in New York because that’s the new popular thing out there.”
At no point did Johnson clarify why the House remains adjourned if there’s real urgency around funding the government. More importantly, he gave no real answer to the core issue: the Epstein files, and whether his move to stall the House is tied to keeping them sealed.
That silence is deafening—and it’s not going unnoticed.
Whether or not there’s merit to the accusations, Johnson’s refusal to clearly address the connection is already fueling suspicion. If he wanted to put the speculation to rest, Sunday’s performance didn’t do him any favors.
Watch the full exchange below from NBC.
