Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday said the House will take “appropriate action” when it returns to Washington in the fall if the Trump administration does not release the files pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein.

The comments came hours before the House is scheduled to break for the weeks-long August recess, which is beginning one day earlier than planned as the chamber remains at a partial standstill over the Epstein saga.

On Wednesday, Johnson said he wanted to leave time for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to release the Epstein documents before staging a vote in the House on the matter. Last week, President Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to move to release relevant grand jury transcripts from the Epstein case, and the president himself has said “credible” information can be published.

“This information should have come out a long time ago,” Johnson told reporters in the Capitol. “I’ve been an advocate of that, we all have. But that process is underway right now, and we’ve got to jealously guard that and protect it and make sure it’s happening. And if it doesn’t, then we’ll take appropriate action when everybody returns here. But we have to allow the court process to play out, that’s how it works.”

He argued that the DOJ needs time to sift through the information and redact the names of innocent victims and other individuals, which could “destroy their lives.”

“That’s what the Justice Department is doing,” he added. “I think they’re doing a deliberate job right now. And our job as the Article I branch is to allow the executive to do that. If it doesn’t come to fruition then we will act. But we have to allow that time to process.”

Democrats and some Republicans for two weeks have been pushing for a vote on legislation that would compel the release of the Epstein files. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) co-sponsored a resolution and are vowing to start a discharge petition to force it to the floor.

Because of the strict rules surrounding discharge petitions, the legislation will not be ready for the floor until September — meaning it will remain a live issue when lawmakers return from recess.

Democrats on the House Rules Committee last week tried to force a vote on the measure but were blocked by Republicans on the panel — prompting fierce pushback from constituents and allegations that they were trying to conceal the files. In response, those Republicans advanced a different, nonbinding resolution later in the week that called for the release of some information. Johnson, however, declined to put it on the floor.

Democrats on the Rules Committee planned to force another vote on their gambit this week, but Republicans on the panel decided to break for recess without adopting a procedural rule, leaving the chamber unable to consider legislation through regular order this week.

The administration, meanwhile, is taking steps to try to quell the outrage. In addition to the request for grand jury testimony, a top DOJ official this week reached out to lawyers for Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex offender and longtime Epstein associate, asking to set up a meeting amid a push by lawmakers to speak with her.

But some lawmakers — including Johnson — are openly wondering if Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence, would be a credible witness. And Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), a former federal prosecutor, pointed out that the grand jury transcripts would only relate to Epstein and Maxwell and not include videos, photographs, recordings, witness interviews or “evidence about Trump and others.”

Johnson for days has said he wants to allow time for the DOJ to release information. But on Wednesday, he said the House would take action if the Justice Department does not follow suit.

“The president has directed the Department of Justice to pursue the release of grand jury information and that is happening as we speak,” Johnson said. “In fact, the court is processing the DOJ’s request for grand jury materials as we are standing here right now. That’s a very important step.”

“We’ll evaluate any necessary measures that Congress needs to undertake when that process is completed,” he added. “I’m convinced the administration is thoroughly reviewing all materials and working to release all credible information while also providing protection for victims.”