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Transcript

Don Lemon & Ahmed Baba On Trump’s Post-Epstein Vote Meltdown And The Possible DOJ Redaction Game

We dig into Trump’s panicked behavior after the Epstein vote, the DOJ’s new Epstein probe, and how Pam Bondi could use the probe as a smokescreen to redact critical Epstein evidence.

We’re back with another live conversation, and this one goes straight to the question everyone’s asking after the House vote: will the Epstein files actually be released, or will the Trump DOJ use their new investigation as a pretext to keep the most damning material buried?

Don opens by laying out his theory: that the SDNY probe is the perfect excuse to say, “Sorry, active investigation, we can’t disclose anything.” We then walk through the timing, the language in the Epstein transparency bill, and how the Trump administration might seek to justify heavy redactions.

From there, we get into what those redactions could look like in practice. We talk about Pam Bondi’s robotic press conference, Kash Patel standing silently by, and the administration’s scripted talking points about “following the law” and “protecting victims.” I explain how vague statutory language could be stretched to black out key references, potentially including anything involving Trump himself, while still claiming compliance. But we also point out the limits of that strategy: the law requires explanations for each redaction, and politically, Trump’s behavior already looks like someone desperate to keep something hidden.

Then we zoom out to the bigger picture. Don walks through the circumstantial evidence that already exists in public reporting: Trump’s many documented ties to Epstein, his own comments about “liking them on the younger side,” the emails suggesting he knew far more than he admits, and reports of sensitive material sitting in DOJ files.

We talk about why, if Trump were truly confident the files would clear him, he’d be begging for full disclosure instead of fighting it at every turn. We also hit the right-wing media ecosystem: how Fox and other outlets have downplayed or ignored survivor-focused coverage while trying to pin the scandal on Democrats.

Then, we get to Trump’s frantic behavior in the aftermath of the Epstein vote, including his depraved calls for Democratic lawmakers to be punished by death:

It’s a candid, unfiltered conversation about power, accountability, and what justice should look like in a case this serious. We also can’t help but make some jokes about what may or may not have happened between Donald Trump and Bill Clinton lol.

If you want a clear-eyed analysis of the Epstein files fight, the DOJ’s moves, and Trump’s increasingly frantic response, this one’s worth your time.

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