Overview

• Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that Trump kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago and described Epstein as an FBI informant.
• The offhand comment was captured on video and drew wide attention on social media, according to TPM.
• TPM’s author characterizes Johnson’s remarks as a Trump defense and rejects the idea that Trump helped bring Epstein to justice.
• The broader dispute over Epstein-related records remains active as courts and lawmakers pursue selective unsealing and disclosures.
• Legal constraints over grand jury secrecy and victim privacy continue to shape what becomes public, with bipartisan pressure fueling the push for transparency.