In a recent monologue, Jimmy Kimmel took aim at the U.S. Department of Justice’s controversial handling of the Epstein files, labelling it a blatant cover-up. The late-night host’s comments came on the heels of a heated congressional hearing featuring U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, where she faced pointed questions regarding the release of information related to Jeffrey Epstein’s notorious network.
Kimmel’s Sharp Critique
Kimmel’s Wednesday night remarks began with a sardonic nod to Donald Trump, who had just received the “Undisputed Champion of Coal Award” from the Washington Coal Club. “It brings his real award total to zero,” he quipped, before suggesting that if Trump desired accolades, he might as well have his name appended to the Epstein files. “Let’s call them the Trump-Epstein files,” Kimmel joked, underscoring the former president’s alleged ties to Epstein.
The host pressed further into the scandal, highlighting the DOJ’s accidental release of several victim names while redacting many individuals linked to Epstein, including Trump himself. “He appears in those files about a million times,” Kimmel noted, referencing the staggering volume of documents still withheld from public scrutiny. “And that doesn’t even include the three million pages they haven’t released yet.”
The Bondi Hearing
The atmosphere on Capitol Hill was charged as Bondi faced a panel of lawmakers, unrepentant and defensive. When questioned by several Epstein victims present, she refused to acknowledge their suffering, instead accusing Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky of succumbing to “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” Kimmel seized on this, incredulously remarking, “The ultra-conservative who endorsed Trump three times has ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’? Really?”
He emphasised the absurdity of Bondi’s position, demanding to know why the DOJ would choose to conceal names of individuals who were not victims. “If they have nothing to hide, why are they hiding names? That’s it. That’s the only question anybody needs to ask,” he asserted, concluding with, “It is a brazen cover-up.”
The Daily Show’s Take
Meanwhile, over on The Daily Show, host Jordan Klepper found humour in a peculiar Olympic moment. Norwegian skier Sturla Holm Lægreid, who secured a bronze medal in the men’s 20km biathlon, made headlines for publicly confessing to cheating on his girlfriend during a post-race interview. “I would’ve gone with a ‘thank you, mom and dad’, but instead you went with ‘guess what, world, I can’t keep it in my pants,’” Klepper remarked, poking fun at the skier’s misguided priorities.
Klepper also weighed in on Bondi’s contentious performance before Congress, likening her attitude to that of a “bratty senior called into the principal’s office.” He noted the disappointment felt by many hoping for justice for Epstein’s victims, while Bondi seemed to prioritise defending Trump over addressing the scandal’s fallout.
Bondi’s Focus on Trump
Throughout the hearing, Bondi’s rhetoric was fixated on defending Trump, whom she described as “the greatest president in American history.” Klepper quipped, “If you’re going to embarrass yourself on national television like that, at least win a bronze medal first,” further illustrating the absurdity of her position.
Why it Matters
The uproar surrounding the Epstein files illustrates a profound crisis of accountability within the U.S. justice system. As Kimmel and Klepper both highlighted, the apparent discrepancies and omissions in the DOJ’s disclosures not only raise questions about transparency but also about the very fabric of justice for victims. The public’s trust in governmental institutions hinges on their ability to handle such sensitive matters with integrity—an expectation that seems increasingly unmet in the ongoing saga of the Epstein files.
