'Obvious concern': Why Johnson is hesitant to let Ghislaine Maxwell testify under oath
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) takes questions from reporters at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 23, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Speaker Mike Johnson (R‑La.) on Wednesday expressed doubt that Ghislaine Maxwell — the convicted sex offender and longtime associate of convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein — would serve as a credible witness, according to a report by The Hill.
“I will note the obvious concern, the caveat that [House Oversight Committee] Chairman [James] Comer and I and everyone has that, can she be counted on to tell the truth? Is she a credible witness?” he said, per The Hill.
He added: “I mean, this is a person who’s been sentenced to many, many years in prison for terrible, unspeakable, conspiratorial acts. Acts against innocent young people.”'
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“Is that something that can be trusted? You know, that’s a reasonable question. Is that credible evidence?” he added.
Johnson continued: “I don’t know, but we’ll have to see. We have to, you know, uncover everything that we can and let the American people evaluate.”
Johnson's remarks come as some lawmakers and federal officials pursue conversations with Maxwell amid renewed scrutiny of the Epstein case.
On Tuesday, a House Oversight subcommittee approved a subpoena to compel Maxwell’s deposition and a senior Department of Justice (DOJ) official also contacted her attorneys to arrange a meeting.
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Johnson questioned whether Maxwell would deliver dependable testimony.
“I fully support my committee chairs, Jamie Comer is a trusted friend, he’s an excellent chairman of the Oversight Committee, and he has a duty and responsibility to follow the truth where it leads,” Johnson stated when asked if he backs the panel’s action.
“And so every single one of us are for maximum transparency, and we’ll use every power that we have to ensure that that’s done. If they see fit to bring in Ghislaine Maxwell for testimony, that’s fine," he added.
