In a fiery CNN interview that quickly went viral, Texas Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett delivered a blunt assessment of House Speaker Mike Johnson's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein documents, culminating in an unexpected expletive that captured Washington's attention.
The Explosive CNN Exchange
During an appearance on "The Lead" with Jake Tapper, Congresswoman Crockett initially resisted the host's invitation to use stronger language when responding to Speaker Johnson's claims about the Epstein files. Johnson had asserted he wasn't attempting to block the House vote but rather protecting victim identities - a claim Crockett vehemently disputed.
"I would cuss, but I'm not going to," Crockett initially responded, before adding "he's full of it." When Tapper reminded her that cable television permitted stronger language, the Texas Democrat laughed but initially declined. However, moments later she relented, stating plainly: "He's full of shit."
Constitutional Concerns and Political Maneuvering
Crockett detailed what she characterized as Johnson's systematic efforts to avoid dealing with the Epstein matter. She noted that during the government shutdown, the Speaker refused to bring the House back into session specifically to avoid addressing the Epstein files. More seriously, she highlighted Johnson's failure to swear in newly-elected Representative Adelita Grijalva from Arizona.
"He violated the Constitution to avoid this," Crockett stated emphatically. Grijalva's signature proved decisive in the discharge petition calling for a vote on the bill to release the Epstein documents, making the delay in swearing her in particularly significant.
The Political Fallout and Uncertain Future
Despite Johnson eventually swearing in Grijalva last week, Crockett remains skeptical about the Speaker's intentions. She suggested that Johnson never intended for the Epstein documents release to actually proceed, anticipating the bill would fail in the Senate even if it passed the House.
The political dynamics shifted when former President Donald Trump walked back his initial opposition to releasing the files after recognizing that Republican lawmakers would defy him. Nevertheless, Crockett predicted the release would "somehow" get "killed" in the Senate, suggesting Johnson was counting on this outcome all along.
This confrontation highlights the ongoing political battles surrounding transparency and accountability in Washington, with the Epstein documents serving as the latest flashpoint between Democratic lawmakers and Republican leadership.
