Republicans Shield Trump from Epstein Investigation

Summary

Bulwark Takes: Republicans Shield Trump from Epstein Investigation Release Date: August 5, 2025

In this episode of Bulwark Takes, hosts Sam Stein and Will Sommer delve into the recent developments surrounding the Epstein investigation, highlighting the political maneuvers that appear to shield former President Donald Trump from scrutiny. The discussion is both insightful and critical, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of the current political landscape concerning one of the most controversial figures in recent history.

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1. Introduction to the Epstein Subpoenas

[00:00 - 01:06]

Sam Stein opens the conversation by introducing the primary topic: James Comer, the chair of the House committee overseeing the investigation, has issued subpoenas for several key figures linked to the Epstein saga. Stein emphasizes the high-profile nature of the individuals on the list and hints at a particularly noteworthy name that will be discussed later in the episode.

Sam Stein: “We call that a tease. I'm not going to give you this person's name quite right now.” [00:15]

Will Sommer concurs, noting the dynamics at play within the Republican Party and the influence of House Democrats in pushing forward the subpoenas.

Will Sommer: “Clearly Democrats were, you know, they thought they had enough Republicans they could peel off to make this happen.” [01:06]

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2. Detailed Breakdown of Subpoenaed Individuals

[01:17 - 02:11]

Stein provides an extensive list of the individuals who have been subpoenaed, including former U.S. Attorneys General like Bill Barr and Eric Holder, former FBI Directors Robert Mueller and James Comey, and notably, former Secretaries of State Bill and Hillary Clinton. He also mentions subpoenas for records from the Justice Department, set to be produced by August 19.

Sam Stein: “Former U.S Attorney General Bill Barr, former U.S Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez... former President Bill Clinton.” [01:17]

Will Sommer brings attention to the conspicuous absence of Donald Trump from the list, highlighting a potential strategic decision by the committee.

Will Sommer: “One longtime Jeffrey Epstein friend is missing, named Donald Trump.” [02:04]

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3. Analysis of the Subpoena List

[02:11 - 02:49]

The hosts discuss the underlying reasons for the selection of subpoenaed individuals. Sommer suggests that the move appears to be a tactical deflection, steering the investigation towards the Clintons rather than focusing on Trump.

Will Sommer: “It seems to me like a real attempt to deflect any heat from Trump and try this about the Clintons.” [02:14]

Stein scrutinizes the relevance of some names on the list, questioning their direct connection to the Epstein investigations.

Sam Stein: “Those aren't the names that spring to mind when you talk about, like, weird Epstein stuff or unexplained situations.” [02:49]

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4. The Role of Alex Acosta

[04:12 - 06:36]

Shifting the focus to Alex Acosta, Stein underscores his pivotal role in the Epstein case. Acosta, the U.S. Attorney in the District of Florida, was responsible for prosecuting Epstein in 2007. The hosts explore the controversial "sweetheart deal" that allowed Epstein to evade significant prosecution, a decision that later led to Acosta's resignation amid public backlash.

Will Sommer: “He was involved in that. And then this flared up again because he, in the first Trump administration was the Labor Secretary.” [05:35]

Stein highlights the DOJ's 2020 affirmation that Acosta had let Epstein off too easily and discusses Acosta’s current position on the board of Newsmax, a media company that has become a stronghold for the "Free Galen" movement.

Sam Stein: “He'd give him the middle finger so fast.” [06:23]

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5. Subpoenas Targeting the Clintons

[06:36 - 09:53]

The conversation transitions to the subpoenas issued to Bill and Hillary Clinton. Stein expresses skepticism over the necessity of targeting the Clintons, considering the abundance of other high-profile individuals linked to Epstein, such as Alan Dershowitz.

Sam Stein: “They have a relationship with Epstein. ... They could have added some names to this. This is the language of the subpoena.” [06:51]

He reads excerpts from the subpoenas, detailing the specific allegations and connections between the Clintons and Epstein, including Bill Clinton's private flights on Epstein's plane and alleged pressure on Vanity Fair regarding sex trafficking allegations.

Sam Stein: “The subpoena for Hillary Clinton reads this. ... Ghislaine Maxwell's nephew is the basis for this subpoena for Hillary Clinton.” [08:43]

Will Sommer agrees that the connection made through Ghislaine Maxwell's nephew feels tenuous and points out the lack of substantial evidence linking him to key conspiracy elements.

Will Sommer: “But a bit of a stretch. ... Ghislaine's nephew has been portrayed as this... important figure in the conspiracy.” [08:53]

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6. Speculations on Future Developments

[09:11 - 09:53]

As the discussion nears its conclusion, Stein wonders whether the committee will expand its subpoenas to include other notable figures like Cash Patel or Pam Bondi. Sommer suggests that the current actions represent a limited disclosure designed to divert attention rather than provide concrete answers.

Will Sommer: “This strikes me as, you know, into a limited hangout. ... trying to divert things over to the Clintons.” [09:11]

Stein anticipates ongoing conflicts between the Department of Justice and Congress, with the former likely resisting the release of sensitive files by citing ongoing investigations.

Sam Stein: “They say, no, this is ongoing. ... we can't possibly complicate the... investigation.” [09:34]

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7. Conclusion and Looking Ahead

[09:53 - End]

Stein wraps up the episode by expressing his anticipation for further discussions on the Epstein files and the implications of the recent subpoenas. He encourages listeners to subscribe to the feed for more in-depth conversations on this evolving story.

Sam Stein: “Subscribe to the feed so you can get more conversations like this and we will talk to you soon.” [09:53]

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Key Takeaways:

• Strategic Subpoenas: The issued subpoenas appear to strategically target the Clintons, potentially as a move to divert attention from Donald Trump.

• Alex Acosta's Controversial Role: Acosta's involvement in the Epstein case and his subsequent career moves remain a focal point, raising questions about accountability and influence.

• Limited Disclosure: The committee's actions suggest a cautious approach to the investigation, possibly to manage political fallout and control the narrative surrounding Epstein's network.

This episode of Bulwark Takes provides a critical examination of the political strategies at play in the ongoing Epstein investigation, highlighting the intricate interplay between justice and political maneuvering.

Transcript

[Sam Stein]

Hey, guys. Me, Sam Stein, managing editor at the Bulwark, joined by Will Sommer, who I've been spending a lot of time with on camera doing youtubes. I feel very close to you, Will. Hey, lots of the same way.

[Will Sommer]

Yeah, no, absolutely. Lots of content to put out and so much going on.

[Sam Stein]

I was thinking less about content and more about our emotional connection. But you're strictly business, so let's get into it, I guess, before we do subscribe to the feed. Okay, so reason we're talking this morning is that James Comer, who is the chair of the House over that committee, has issued subpoenas for key figures in the Epstein saga. Some very notable names that are on the list, and then one incredibly notable emission that we're going to get to. We call that a tease. I'm not going to give you this person's name quite right now. Anyways, the reason they did this is because House Democrats sort of forced their hand into doing this. And the House Oversight Committee, right before they went on August recess, said they would get on it. And so that's where we're at. Am I missing some context here, Will, or am I about right?

[Will Sommer]

No, I think that's right. I mean, clearly Democrats were, you know, they thought they had enough Republicans they could peel off to make this happen. And so it. Yeah, I mean, Comer had to do this here.

[Sam Stein]

Okay, so here's the list of the people who he has subpoenaed. In addition, he subpoenaed, I should note, records from the Justice Department that he wants produced on August 19. With respect to the Epstein files, here are the names. Former US Attorney General Bill Barr, former US Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, former US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, former FBI Director Robert Mueller, former US Attorney General Loretta lynch, former US Attorney General Eric Holder, former US Attorney General Merrick Garland, former FBI Director James Comey. And then the big ones, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton. I listed those in the order of expected response to the subpoena. So at first blush, what do you make of the list?

[Will Sommer]

Yeah, well, I mean, I would say, you know, one. One guy, one longtime Jeffrey Epstein friend is missing, named Donald Trump.

[Sam Stein]

Oh, that wasn't even my admission. Okay. But go ahead.

[Will Sommer]

Yeah, I mean, look, I, I think this is the sense from Republicans that they need to make a show of investigating this to some extent and maybe, you know, maybe they are legitimately interested in some of it. But, you know, it, it seems to me like a real attempt to deflect any heat from Trump and try this about the Clintons. And there's kind of some random names on there. I mean, like, like, Loretta Lynch. Yeah. Like, yeah. I mean, it's people who's like. I guess, like, tangentially, these people, like, were in the Justice Department or the FBI. But, you know, when you talk about, like, weird Epstein stuff or unexplained situations, those aren't the names that spring to mind.

[Sam Stein]

So the reason. So that occurred to me, too, like, why are these people involved in this? And if you look at the actual subpoenas, you know, like the. The through line, I suppose, is that they were at senior levels of the Justice Department during prosecutions or investigations as to Epstein and Maxwell and others. And so, like, if you look at the. The Mueller one, it's basically like, hey, you were at the FBI for, you know, I think it was like, 2000. And I have the actual list here. He says, during your tenure as director of the Federal Bureau of investigations, from 2001 to 2013, the FBI investigated Jeffrey Epstein for sex. CR. Pursuant to this direction. Please see the attached subpoena for you to appear at a deposition on September 2, 2025. Look, I just feel like Robert Mueller, who seemed pretty, I would say, old and somewhat forgetful when he testified and during the first Trump administration, probably doesn't have, like, encyclopedic knowledge of what was going on during the Epstein investigations when he was FBI director. So I don't really know what the utility of that subpoena is. So.

[Will Sommer]

Well, this is also. This is. We have to remember that, you know, obviously the Ghislaine Maxwell stuff, I think, has thrown us off, but there was a time where you didn't have the FBI director or the deputy Attorney general going to interview people like Ghislaine Maxwell. So, you know, you have to imagine this was going down, like, way below his pay grade.

[Sam Stein]

Right. And that brings me to the actual real admission here, the person who I would really want to hear from with respect to all this, and it's not Donald Trump, although I would love to see them try to subpoena Trump. He'd give him the middle finger so fast. It's Alex Acosta. It's Alex Acosta, who was the U.S. attorney in the District of Florida, I believe, and he was the one who Prosecuted Epstein in 2007. Can you remind viewers just the role that Acosta played in all this?

[Will Sommer]

Yeah. So Alex Acosta, as you said, was the U.S. attorney, so the sort of the chief federal prosecutor in Florida. When Jeffrey Epstein had this, his sort of initial big Brush with the law, where it's these allegations of sort of like these weird underage sexual massages and paying young girls for them. And so basically the cops in Florida thought they had him dead to rights. We could put this guy away for decades. And then the government gave him both sort of the federal and state and local authorities got together and gave him a sweetheart deal that ruled out a huge amount of prosecution and basically let him skate with a very minor charge. And so Alex Acosta, as the federal prosecutor, was involved in that. And then this flared up again because he, in the first Trump administration was the Labor Secretary. And so people started saying, why did this guy who gave Epstein such a sweet deal, why is he like now getting elevated to, by the way, a role that has a lot of oversight over trafficking?

[Sam Stein]

And I believe, and I. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe in 2020, the DOJ affirmed that he got that Acosta let him off too easily. And then Acosta was kind of driven from the administration over this.

[Will Sommer]

Yeah, I mean, Acosta had to resign. I mean, this was really sort of the, the resurgence of, of Epstein News around 2019. So he had to resign. And the, the other kind of key, Alex, ac is it's. It was reported in the Daily Beast, and so this is sort of a second or third hand report. But basically, when asked why he gave Epstein such a sweet deal, he said, well, I. He's reportedly said, I was told he was intelligence or somehow connected to an intelligence agency. And that's pretty much like 90, 95% of the idea that, that Epstein was an intelligence asset comes just from that quote. So that would be a great thing to ask him about.

[Sam Stein]

Yeah. And now he's currently on the board at Newsmax, so he's involved in a media company, which means he's, you know, in, in spirit, I suppose, should be willing to testify, although I doubt he would be enjoying that.

[Will Sommer]

Well, and the other thing I would say is, is that Newsmax now has become sort of the, the point of the spear for the Free Galane movement. They've become, they become very outspoken on, like, maybe Kelly, very like, well, maybe Ghislaine is innocent and who's to say? And this kind of stuff.

[Sam Stein]

All right, now, the Clintons, this one seemed somewhat gratuitous, although I guess, you know, actually not gratuities. That's the wrong word because obviously they have a relationship with Epstein. I mean, it's like pretty obvious, pretty well known. But there are a lot of other famous people who have relationships with Epstein, who I feel like they could have thrown subpoenas in. Trump, of course, is one of them. But there's like, Alan Dershowitz, right? Like, they could have added some names to this. This is the language of the subpoena. I'm just going to read it to give you a sense of how they got around to saying, you should appear before us. This is to Bill Clinton. Hillary's is even more interesting. But Bill Clinton, by your own admission, you flew on Jeffrey Epstein's private plane four separate times in 2002 and 2000. During one of the trips, you were even pictured receiving a massage from one of Mr. Epstein's victims. That would be Virginia JRE. It has also been claimed that you pressured Vanity Fair not to publish sex trafficking allegations against your, quote, good friend Mr. Epstein. And there are conflicting reports about whether you ever visited Mr. Epstein's island. You are also allegedly close to Ms. Jalaine Maxwell, an Epstein co conspirator, and attended intimate dinner with her in 2014, three years after public reports about her involvement in Mr. Epstein's abuse of minors. So this is Hillary Clinton's. And then I'll get your reaction to this. Hillary Clinton's subpoena reads this. Your family appears to have had a close relationship with both Jeffrey Epine and his co conspirator, Jalaine Maxwell. For example, your husband, President William Bill Jefferson Clinton, by his own admission, flew on Jeffrey Epstein's private plane four times. This repeats the old subpoena. During one of those trips, he was even Picture G massage. And here it gets interesting. Moreover, your husband was allegedly close to Ms. Maxwell while Mrs. Maxwell's nephew worked on your 2008 presidential campaign and was hired by the State Department shortly after you became Secretary of State. So Ghislaine Maxwell's nephew is the basis for this subpoena for Hillary Clinton. That seemed a little gratuitous to me.

[Will Sommer]

But a bit of a stretch. Yeah. And, you know, I don't think Ghislaine's nephew has been. He hasn't been portrayed as this, like, real, like, important figure in the conspiracy.

[Sam Stein]

I am kind of curious whether they expand beyond this under pressure to do Acosta, maybe even to, like, try to bring in Cash Patel or Pambandi in for testimony. I don't know if they will. Probably not. We'll see. But it seems like this is going to scratch it, but not totally, you know, make it go away.

[Will Sommer]

Yeah, I mean, this strikes me as, you know, into a limited hangout. Right. Like they're going to try to. They're trying to divert things over to, to the Clintons or, you know, I'm curious what's going to happen with these files. I sort of feel like if the White House doesn't want these files to come out, that, that somehow some comber has been spoken to about, you know, maybe they'll claim, well, you know, there's this hot investigation going on. Ghislaine is giving us so much inf.

[Sam Stein]

That's definitely what's going to happen. There's going to be total conflicts between DOJ and Congress where they say, no, this is ongoing. Where you have, you know, we're in talks. We can't, we can't possibly complicate the, the, the trial here or the, or the investigation.

[Will Sommer]

Yeah. So they'll say, oh, well, you know, actually the only people we can bring in front of us are Bill, Bill and Hillary Clinton or Mueller or whatever.

[Sam Stein]

Robert Mueller. No, we'll see what happens. I don't think this is going to solve things, but it is a move in a certain direction. Well, thanks for doing this. Really appreciate, buddy. And I'm sure we'll be having many more conversations about the Epstein files, including in and around what happens with these subpoenas. For those of you who endured this, we appreciate that as well. Subscribe to the feed so you can get more conversations like this and we will talk to you soon.