American podcaster Joe Rogan criticised the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI over the Epstein files controversy, accusing them of lacking transparency in their investigation.Speaking on his latest episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, released Tuesday, Rogan questioned the government’s handling of supposed evidence related to Epstein’s associates.“They’ve got videotape and all of a sudden they don’t,” Rogan said, expressing disbelief over the government’s recent claim that there is no client list or incriminating footage. “You had the director of the FBI on this show saying, ‘If there was [a videotape], nothing you’re looking for is on those tapes,'” Rogan asserted, referring to a previous appearances on his show, including FBI Director Kash Patel, who downplayed the existence of such tapes.Rogan also brought up past statements from Attorney General Pam Bondi, saying, “Like, what? Why’d they say there were thousands of hours of tapes? Why’d they say that? Didn’t Pam Bondi say that?”Rogan was reportedly referring to remarks made by Bondi on July 1, just days before the Department of Justice stated there was no “Epstein List” or incriminating footage. At the time, Bondi told reporters that the FBI was reviewing “tens of thousands of videos” involving Epstein, some allegedly containing child pornography. Months earlier, she had suggested there was an “Epstein list” under review, only to later clarify that it was an investigative file, not a list of names, fueling continued speculation.Meanwhile, on Tuesday (local time), US President Donald Trump responded to growing concern among his supporters following the release of a Justice Department and FBI memo last week. The memo stated that Jeffrey Epstein had “no client list” and confirmed he died by suicide in his New York jail cell in 2019.“I don’t understand it, why they would be so interested. He’s been dead for a long time. He was never a big factor in terms of life. I don’t understand what the interest and what the fascination is. I really don’t. And the credible information has been given,” Trump told reporters.
‘These files were made up by Comey, Obama’
Again, speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump said he had received a briefing from Pam Bondi on the DOJ and FBI review. When asked if Bondi “tell you at all that your name appeared in the files?”, Trump responded, “No, no, she’s given us just a very quick briefing.”Trump then suggested the investigation was part of a broader political narrative aimed at him. “And in terms of the credibility of the different things that they’ve seen, and I would say that, you know, these files were made up by Comey, they were made up by Obama, they were made up by the Biden, and you know, we and we went through years of that with the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax, with all of the different things that we had to go through,” he added.The renewed attention on the Epstein case has stirred widespread debate online, with Joe Rogan’s latest comments adding fuel to the controversy as many continue to question the government’s official narrative.This comes after Trump spent months vowing to release all government records related to Epstein and his associates, even promoting a document release titled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” in February. However, the files revealed little to no new information.Rogan also appeared skeptical over Trump administration’s latest stance, suggesting the US president might be using it to divert attention from his unmet campaign promises related to releasing Epstein-related information, saying “Just bomb Iran and everybody forgets. Everybody forgets about it.”
