MaddowBlog-In Epstein case, Mike Johnson backs off claim that Trump was an FBI 'informant'

[LetMyPeopleVote]

When the House speaker claimed that the president was an FBI “informant” in the Epstein case, it raised some awkward questions. Then he walked it back.

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/epstein-case-mike-johnson-backs-claim-trump-was-fbi-informant-rcna229828

These foolish claims have never made any sense, which made it rather surprising when House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Capitol Hill last week — out loud, on the record and on camera — that Trump was “an FBI informant” in the case against Epstein.

in which Mike Johnson claims that Donald Trump was an FBI informant to take down Epstein

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-09-05T22:23:11.474Z

,,,,,,Similarly, two days after the Louisiana congressman made the comment, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky appeared on ABC News’ “This Week” and asked, “If [the Epstein scandal is] a ‘hoax,’ why was Donald Trump an informant to a hoax?”

A few hours later, The Washington Post reported:

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) on Sunday backed off his claim that President Donald Trump was an FBI informant in the case of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. ... On Sunday, his office released a statement modifying that claim.

“The Speaker is reiterating what the victims’ attorney said, which is that Donald Trump — who kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago — was the only one more than a decade ago willing to help prosecutors expose Epstein for being a disgusting child predator,” the statement from Johnson’s office read.....

As for the bigger picture, a bill called the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would compel the administration to disclose more documents related to the Epstein case, is still pending on Capitol Hill. Johnson has refused to bring the bill to the floor, but a discharge petition, championed by Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, is still seeking signatories.

As of last week, the measure was still a handful of GOP members short of its goal. Watch this space.

[underpants]

1. Eh...,one more thing ...

[Janbdwl72]

2. Until the last few months, this seems highly unlikely.

Given that the FBI that existed until March (or February) of this year credit for being far too intelligent to have the Orange Madman as an informant.

[Paladin]

3. Hey, give it up for Mike Johnson!

Able to stand upright, without the benefit of a functioning spine! A manifest blessing from Johnson's true Lord and Savior, trump---Jesus Christ is way too woke...

[usonian]

4. Looks like Mike has had a bit too much sacramental wine

Or is that Sacramento wine?
From Baron Von Rotgut.

[Torchlight]

5. I can almost hear him as Gilda Radner saying "oops... nevermind.' nt

[Wiz Imp]

6. Johnson's new excuse is also a lie. He's almost as big a liar as Trump.

Johnson's office said “The Speaker is reiterating what the victims’ attorney said, which is that Donald Trump — who kicked Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago — was the only one more than a decade ago willing to help prosecutors expose Epstein for being a disgusting child predator,”

That is not what Brad Edwards said. The "prosecution" of Epstein was long over by 2009 which is the time when Edwards first spoke to Trump. What Edward said was Trump assisted his (Edwards' own) investigation into Epstein. Remember, by this time the "sweetheart deal" Epstein got was public and his victims were needless to say very angry. So he wanted to continue to gather as much info as he could on Epstein in order to try to overturn the plea agreement or if that could not be done, then for the victims to sue Epstein for damages. Edwards confirmed that Trump was the "only person" who voluntarily spoke with him out of numerous people he contacted in 2009. At last weeks press conference, Edwards criticized Trump's recent dismissive stance toward the Epstein case, calling it an "about-face". Edwards noted that Trump's attitude in 2009 stood in stark contrast to his more recent comments.