'Cook this liar': Ex-GOP lawmaker slams Mike Johnson's claim Trump was Epstein 'informant'

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) defended President Donald Trump's conduct throughout the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case files controversy, going so far as to claim with no evidence that Trump was an "FBI informant" against Epstein, and saying that he banished Epstein from Mar-a-Lago upon realizing his abuse of young girls — which is contradicted by the public timeline.

"He's not saying that what Epstein did was a hoax, it's a terrible, unspeakable evil. He believes that himself. When he first heard the rumor, he kicked him out of Mar-a-Lago. He was an FBI informant to try to take this stuff down. The president knows, and has great sympathy for the women who suffered these unspeakable harms. It's detestable to him. He and I have spoken about this as recently as 24 hours ago."

But former Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA), who previously assisted the House January 6 Committee investigation, cut through Johnson's obfuscations in a lengthy post to X.

"Ok. I’ve had enough," wrote Riggleman. "RELEASE THE SIGNED EPSTEIN FBI INFORMANT AND WITNESS DOCUMENTS. If our POTUS was an FBI informant or witness, then why did he call for the release of the Epstein list and run his campaign on it… and then block it?"

"Wouldn’t he know the contents and those that were 'innocent' or guilty?" Riggleman continued. "Why did he say democrats were in it and not have names he can prove? Did he know the 'globalists and deep state' participants? Was he a primary witness? Did he watch or participate in rape and then get immunity? Why didn’t he say that he was an FBI informant about Epstein in his first term or the first 8 months of this term? Why would he threaten GOP House members saying it was 'hostile' act if they voted for the Massie bill? Has he always been an FBI informant? Did he inform on the mob in NY? Were his casinos FBI fronts? When did he become an FBI informant? Are there documents available to release? Did he conspire with Ghislaine? Was he always aware of Epstein?"

"Facts and data," he added. "All of us need to be a million pound s---hammer of facts and data. I am. The media should be able to destroy this narrative and cook this liar."

Johnson bragged earlier this week that he had the votes to stop a bipartisan discharge petition compelling Congress to seek the release of all outstanding files on the Epstein case — even as it became clear he didn't.

Watch Johnson's original remarks below or at the link here.