House Speaker Mike Johnson visibly squirmed and nervously laughed his way through an ABC News interview Sunday when host Jonathan Karl asked why he won't allow a vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files despite repeatedly promising "no daylight" between Republicans and maximum transparency on the documents.
The Louisiana Republican, who has shuttered Congress for weeks and refused to swear in Arizona Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva for nearly a month, swallowed hard and shook his head when Karl asked about the files. "As Kash said, 'that's not my lane,'" Johnson replied with what ABC described as "a nervous laugh," explaining he has "no concern about President Trump" being in the files while simultaneously doing everything possible to prevent their release.
When Karl pressed Johnson about why Grijalva—who would provide the 218th signature needed to force an Epstein files vote—hasn't been sworn in despite winning her election on September 23, Johnson cycled through multiple explanations. He first blamed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the government shutdown, then invoked what he called "the Pelosi precedent," claiming Nancy Pelosi took 25 days to swear in Louisiana Republican Julia Letlow.
"Are you saying that Nancy Pelosi refused to swear her in earlier?" Karl asked. Johnson insisted the long wait was normal institutional procedure—at which point Karl immediately fact-checked him, noting that Letlow herself had requested the delayed timeline.
Karl then reminded Johnson that he had sweared in two Florida Republicans, Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine, during a pro forma session in April within 24 hours of their elections. "You could swear her in tomorrow, right?" Karl clarified.
Johnson quickly interrupted: "No, not tomorrow. No, we couldn't, we wouldn't." He explained the Florida Republicans were "an exception" because they "flew in all their friends and family" and had "a date set"—ceremonial considerations Johnson apparently didn't require for the two GOP members.
The Speaker maintained that giving Arizona constituents congressional representation would interfere with President Trump's Justice Department releasing the files, despite Trump's DOJ characterizing calls for Epstein file releases as a "Democrat hoax."
Last week, Democratic Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly confronted Johnson outside his office. "Let's be clear, the reason Adelita Grijalva is not here is because Mike Johnson wants to cover up for pedophiles on the Epstein list," Gallego told reporters, adding that 700,000 Arizonans currently have no representation in Congress.
Johnson called the senators' appearance "a publicity stunt" and stressed that "pomp and circumstance" takes time, especially when that pomp and circumstance could result in voting on documents he's promised to release.
