Rogan Calls Epstein Redactions ‘Terrible’ for Trump Administration

Podcast host Joe Rogan has sharply criticized the Trump administration’s handling of newly released documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan said the situation “looks terrible” for the administration, especially after President Donald Trump previously described the controversy surrounding Epstein’s files as a “hoax.”

“This is not a hoax,” Rogan said, reacting to the latest release of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

Millions of Files Released

On January 30, the DOJ released more than three million files connected to Epstein. The release included around 180,000 images and 2,000 videos. However, many names of possible associates were heavily redacted, meaning they were blacked out.

After pressure from Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, the DOJ later unredacted several names. Among them was Emirati businessman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.

The documents show that Epstein and bin Sulayem exchanged emails over several years. Some of the messages reportedly included discussions of sex and links to fetish websites. In one email, Epstein allegedly wrote that he “loved the torture video.”

Being named in the files does not mean a person committed a crime. Bin Sulayem has not been charged with any wrongdoing related to Epstein. Reports indicate his name appears more than 5,000 times in the files.

Questions Over Redactions

Rogan questioned why some names were redacted while others were not.

“If you’re not a victim, why would your name be redacted?” he asked on his podcast. “How come you redact some people and not others? This is not good.”

Rogan, who has around 14.5 million followers on Spotify, has at times supported Trump and at other times criticized him. In recent months, he has spoken out against some administration policies, including strict immigration enforcement.

While criticizing the document handling, Rogan also suggested Trump may not have known all the details. “Maybe he didn’t know, if you want to be charitable,” Rogan said, adding that the situation is “definitely not a hoax.”

Lawmakers Review Unredacted Files

The large number of redactions has drawn anger from both Republicans and Democrats.

In response, the DOJ announced that members of Congress could review the full, unredacted files in person. Lawmakers from both parties began viewing the documents this week at a secure facility.

Among those who reviewed the files were Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, along with Khanna and Massie.

After reviewing the materials, Raskin said one of Epstein’s victims was just nine years old. Massie said the documents he saw suggested that a senior official in a foreign government may have been involved in Epstein’s sex trafficking network.

Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His case continues to raise questions about powerful individuals who may have been connected to him.

The DOJ has not said whether additional documents will be released publicly.