Congressional insider warns Mike Johnson's delay is about the Epstein files--not a shutdown

By Sarah K. Burris
Published September 26, 2025 12:58 PM ET

Punchbowl News reported Friday morning that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) may not bring lawmakers back to the U.S. Capitol all next week. The government is expected to shut down at midnight on Wednesday.

But one top congressional staffer noted that it isn't actually about the shutdown that's looming.

People will read this as a shutdown thing, but for Mike Johnson, it is 100% an Epstein files thing, and nobody knows that better than House Republicans," wrote Aaron Fritschner, deputy chief of staff to Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), in a post on his social media.

https://www.rawstory.com/mike-johnson-2674045025/

Hey democrats shut it down..................when the rural hospitals which are starting to close down in republican maga gerrymanders states.................and there leader is getting tax payer funded health care is going to put in place this coming Jan 1, 2026 AI bullshit Medicare cuts.........we are witnessing a fucking consigliore attorney House speaker protecting an outright mob boss on sex on crime case and basically saying FO US Constitution and the list goes on an on with these F***kers.............shut down the government............end of story democrats........... do not blink............enough is enough...........