'I'm appalled by him': Epstein survivor slams Mike Johnson for 'theatrics' amid big vote

A Republican voter and woman who is a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse called out House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) over delaying swearing in of Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) and the vote for a bill to release the Epstein files.

Epstein survivor Haley Robson told CNN anchor Pamela Brown on Wednesday that she feels disappointed by Johnson and President Donald Trump, who she voted for, over their handling of the files and discharge petition.

Brown asked her what she would tell the president.

"The flip flop inthe back and forth has beennothing short of nauseating andembarrassing," Robson said of Trump. "I think that you [Trump]had 2024 campaigned on this, soit's very overdue for thesurvivors. I think that if youwould like to clear your nameonce and for all, and let's putthe past behind us so we can allmove forward in a positivedirection and finally get thejustice and clarity that wedeserve. I suggest that wefollow through with ourpromises. We follow through withwhat we have said we were goingto do, because at the end of theday, we only have integrity andwe only have our word. So Iwould like to see him sign thisand let's get through it."

She also reacted to Johnson's comments that Tuesday's landmark legislation was a political show vote.

"Well, I was present in theroom when they were doing thevotes, as well as all thesurvivors. And I can say theonly theatrics I saw was fromhim [Johnson]," Robson said. "I think some of hiscomments were on that fine line.This is not a hoax. There is notheater coming from us or thesurvivors on our end. I'mappalled by him in general, andI've lost a lot of respect byhim."

For 44 days, Grijalva, who was a deciding vote in the discharge petition, was not sworn in. Robson blamed Johnson for delaying the vote amid the government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history.

"You will neverconvince me that shutting downthe government for 50 days — andin those 50 days was when weneeded them the most. And inthose 50 days, we don't knowwhat happened. We just know thatyou wouldn't swear in Adelita Grijalva. And I'm surethere was more pressing issuesand policies that came to lightin that decision making. Butthis has been an issue that hasbeen very important to the American people, and somethingthat he campaigned on," Robson said.

Brown clarified that the shutdown last 44 days.

"And whenyou have a policy or proceduresthat need to be done for the American people, I feel it's in America's best interest and thepeople's best interest. If youfollow through and get thingsdone, instead of just closingoff, surely they are the adults.Surely they can figure it out," Robson added.

Johnson has said that he was concerned that releasing the files could harm innocent people or other survivors who wanted to stay private, and that he wanted to add amendments, Brown said.

"Well,no, that's actually inaccuratein my opinion, because thesurvivors that don't want to bepublic are Jane Doe's," Robson explained. "They've been protected and their names have been redacted this whole time as Jane Doe's."