1 Congressman vs 20 Epstein File Critics (ft. Ro Khanna) | Surrounded

Summary

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Surrounded – Episode 1: "Congressman vs 20 Epstein File Critics" (ft. Ro Khanna)

Date: April 12, 2026
Host: John Regolato (Jubilee Media)
Guest: Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA, co-author of the Epstein Files Transparency Act)
Context: Ro Khanna faces tough, direct questions from a panel of 20 Americans—including progressives, conservatives, former law enforcement, and Gen Z participants—on the release of the Epstein files, elite accountability, political hypocrisy, and the failures of America's justice system.

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Episode Overview

The debut episode pits Congressman Ro Khanna—co-author of the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act—against a diverse group of twenty Americans who are critical, skeptical, and searching for accountability in the wake of the Epstein files' partial public release. The conversation exposes deep frustrations with America’s two-tiered justice system, what true accountability looks like, political complicity, and the limits of transparency in a media-fueled, hyper-partisan era.

Main Theme:

• Can the powerful actually be held accountable in America, and is transparency enough?

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Two-Tiered Justice System: The "Epstein Class" vs. the Working Class

[02:38–07:39]

• Khanna’s claim: The privileged receive protection while ordinary people do not.
• Khanna illustrates double standards: “If you get a parking ticket...you’ll get arrested. In this case, people who had wealth and power...thought that they could get away with [raping underage girls] and no police were ever coming and asking them questions.” (07:39)
• Audience: Political and financial ties of elected officials to the "Epstein class" erode public trust—“How do we have faith in our legislature...when we know that their pockets are being lined up by the same people?” (08:43)

Notable Quote:
“Are we going to be for the working class or are we going to be for the Epstein class?”
— Ro Khanna [09:06]

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2. The Partisanship Trap: Are Both Sides Complicit?

[03:09–05:02, 10:02–12:20, 17:36–21:28]

• Republican, Democratic, and Independent critics: Grill Khanna on why files weren’t released sooner under either party.
• Khanna admits to bipartisan donor protection: “Both parties had donors in them. It was in everyone’s interest to stay quiet.” (09:06)
• “Trump could have been a hero,” Khanna says, “but I was surprised and disappointed he fought it.” (04:35)
• Trump supporters insist, “Donald Trump has done more to expose pedophiles than Joe Biden ever did.” (05:57)
• Gen Z participants question whether Democrat outcry is genuine or political: “Right now, the sudden Democrat outburst on the Epstein files...it’s not really about justice.” (17:36)

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3. Transparency vs. Accountability: Has Justice Actually Been Served?

[12:20–16:01, 21:39–25:22, 41:48–43:02]

• Progressive Critique: “Transparency act almost feels like trauma porn...we are forcing survivors to relive the worst moments of their lives...If there’s no justice or if there’s no accountability...we’re not really getting the survivors [justice].” – Renuka (Progressive Woman) [13:59]
• Khanna agrees: Survivors want investigations, not just document dumps. Many perpetrators named by survivors still face no investigation or prosecution (15:11–15:57)
• Files release incomplete: 3 million documents released—not even half disclosed; survivors' privacy sometimes violated (22:27–23:54)
• Khanna intends to seek depositions and prosecutions, not just file releases.

Notable Quote:
“What angers me the most is knowing that some of the people in those files were not facing prosecution. And by the way, they’re facing prosecution in other countries, in Britain, in Norway, in France.”
— Ro Khanna [15:11]

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4. Limits and Loopholes of the Transparency Act

[25:27–35:30]

• Critics highlight that the Act lacks penalties for non-compliance, allows problematic redactions, and didn’t prevent DOJ from withholding files.
• Khanna: “If I had to do it over again...we would have probably added a private cause of action as well.” (26:33)
• Explains challenge in passing tough enforcement: “We had to go against the speaker, Donald Trump, senators, even people in our own parties...If we had lost one vote...the thing wouldn’t have [gone] through.” (32:18–34:00)
• Obstacles: Political coalition-building required compromise; further reforms possible. (35:15)

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5. Moral vs. Legal Guilt: Dangers of a Witch Hunt

[37:12–43:02, 72:17–74:57]

• Conservative participants warn against assuming guilt based on mentions in files—“Just because someone’s in the Epstein files doesn’t mean they’re guilty.” (41:45)
• Khanna: “There shouldn’t be a witch hunt...there are a lot of people in those files who are totally innocent...But...there are a lot of rich and powerful people...who raped or abused these girls.” (38:44)

Notable Moment:
“Would you ever take your family to [the] island of someone convicted as a pedophile?...Absolutely not.”
— Khanna to Antoine (Law Enforcement), [47:47]

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6. Focus on Specific Accountability: Name-Checking the Elite

[07:07, 43:34–53:02, 62:29–67:24]

• Names repeatedly highlighted: Les Wexner, Leon Black, Howard Lutnick, Steve Tisch, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump.
• Khanna calls for investigations irrespective of party or donor status: “If Donald Trump is guilty...he should be thrown in jail. Same for Clintons. Same for Wexner, Black, and Democratic donors.” (20:25–37)
• Lutnick (Trump Commerce Secretary) should resign for lying about Epstein associations—but Khanna says this is a question of judgment, not criminality. (52:11)

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7. Comparing Global Accountability: Why Is America Lagging?

[62:29–69:16]

• Britain, France, Norway prosecuting their elites—why not the US?
• Khanna: “It is ironic that two American congresspeople exposed all these Epstein files...and yet America is doing the least to hold people accountable.” (66:09)
• Participants challenge notion that UK’s actions were sufficiently substantial—claiming they were mainly “performative” (68:01).

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8. Race, Gender, and Intersectionality: Elite Impunity Is Not New

[12:20–13:59, 69:22–72:13]

• Progressive and critical voices push Khanna to reckon with structural and historical injustice—pointing out survivors come from vulnerable social classes, often women and people of color.
• Khanna: “We’ve had an intentional policy in this country targeting...black men. So we’ve got to talk about race and gender. Class is also an issue, but I don’t believe we can just talk about class and ignore [slavery, Jim Crow, and past injustices].” (69:36)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Elite Impunity:
“Bad people have gotten away with breaking the law and facing no consequences. They caused the Great Recession. They sent us to war in Iraq. They’re doing terrible things. We need accountability.”
— Ro Khanna [24:44]

On Political Risks:
“We’ve had billionaires funding campaigns against us. We’ve taken risks, and we’ve gotten something done. It’s not just idle talk.”
— Ro Khanna [54:40]

On Justice for Survivors:
“Every person who engaged in the rape of these girls or who covered up for that rape needs to face accountability.”
— Ro Khanna [15:11]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening Exchange: Epstein Files Partisan Blame Game [0:09–5:36]
• What Is the Two-Tiered Justice System? [7:27–10:02]
• Trust in Politicians & Bipartisanship [10:52–11:30]
• Sexual Violence as a Gendered Class Issue [12:20–15:57]
• Transparency Act: Files Released and Surviving Gaps [21:39–25:22]
• The Act’s Enforcement Failures & Political Fears [25:27–35:15]
• Should We Assume Guilt From a File Mention? [38:44–41:45]
• Accountability for Trump, Clinton & Other Elites [19:23–21:28]
• Global Prosecutions vs. US Inaction [62:29–66:46]
• Intersectional Justice, Race, and Historical Patterns [69:22–72:13]

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Tone & Language

Direct, often heated but respectful.
Khanna remains measured, occasionally passionate, emphasizing bipartisan collaboration and moral urgency, acknowledging weaknesses in the system and legislation.

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Conclusion

The episode demonstrates a profound erosion of public faith in institutions and politicians, fueled by decades of elite impunity, selective transparency, and partisan finger-pointing. Survivors’ pain and advocacy remain central but unresolved—participants repeatedly call for investigations and prosecutions rather than documents and talking points.

Final Message:
Transparency is necessary, but only meaningful when followed by justice. Until the powerful are truly held accountable, neither party nor politician can rebuild trust.

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Recommended Segment:
For a concise yet representative exchange about trust, accountability, and the limits of transparency, listen to [07:27–12:20] and [21:39–25:22]—these sections capture bipartisan skepticism, survivor-centered critiques, and the stakes of the debate.

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Transcript

[John Regolato]

Hey listeners, just want to remind you we have episodes of the Pod coming out every Sunday. So please consider subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for your support.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Someone's convicted as a pedophile. Would you ever take your family to their island?

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

Absolutely not.

[Independent Political Commentator]

Okay, y' all taking this issue that real victims have gone through and it's almost like politicizing it for personal political agenda.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But certainly you don't think Thomas Massie and I have done that, right? We always had this survival.

[Independent Political Commentator]

Well, to a certain degree. Where was this energy when you first came in?

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

Who released the Epstein files? Was it Joe Biden or was it President Trump?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, he did it cause Massey and I forced his hand with the.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

So why didn't you force Joe Biden's hand? Donald Trump has done more to expose pat followers than Joe Biden ever did.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

On a 1 to 10. How much do you trust me?

[Audience Member / Critic]

You released the file, so I'm gonna give you like a six or a seven.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

That's not bad.

[Audience Member / Critic]

Yeah, no, it's pretty good. Yeah, Massie up like an 8 or a 9.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

How did Massey get a higher score than me?

[John Regolato]

Millions of Epstein files have been released. The American people are demanding accountability and justice for the victims. John. I'm John Regolato from Jubilee Media. This is surrounded everyday Americans from both sides of the political aisle are here to discuss the Epstein files, our two tier justice system and what proper accountability looks like. Today we're in Washington D.C. with the CO author of the Epstein files Transparency Act, Representative Ro Khanna. Welcome to the show.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thanks. Thanks for having me.

[John Regolato]

You ready to get into these discussions?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I'm excited.

[John Regolato]

Are you all ready?

[Independent / Former Republican]

Yes.

[John Regolato]

All right, let's get into it.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I'm Congressman Ro Khanna. I represent Silicon Valley. I'm the co author with Thomas Massie of the Epstein Transparency act that forced the release of 3 million files. I believe we need to stand for the working class, not the Epstein class. Today I'm surrounded by 20Americans to discuss the Epstein files. Zootopia 2 has come home to Disney. Let's go get ready for a new case.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

We're gonna crack this case and prove we're victorious. Partners of all time.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

New friends. You are Gary the Snake. And your last name. Desnake. Dream Team Habitats Zootopia has a secret reptile population. You can watch the record breaking phenomenon at home. You're clearly barking at.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Zootopia 2.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Now available on Disney Plus.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Rated PG.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone Paying big wireless way too Much.

[Audience Member / Critic]

Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying, no judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway.

[Audience Member / Critic]

Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required. Intro rate first 3 months only, then

[Renuka (Progressive Woman)]

full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

See full [e-mail] My first surrounded claim is that the treatment of the Epstein class shows that there are two tiers of justice in America.

[John Regolato]

If you would like to debate this claim, please get to the chair in three, three, two, one.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Question, Mr.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

Congressman.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I like the boots.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

Yeah, thank you.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Where did you get those?

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

Got those out in Dallas.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Nice.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

Yeah. And thank you for being here. Thank you, Mr. Congressman. When were you elected in Congress?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

2016. Started in 2017.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

And when did the Epstein stuff first come out? Was that 2008 or when was that?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, he was convicted in 2008.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

2008. So you started when President Trump was in office the first time?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Yeah.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

And you served while Joe Biden was in office? He's from my home state in Delaware. Not a fan of him. I voted for President Trump proudly, the first time I ever voted this past year.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Really?

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

Yeah. First time I ever voted.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

What made you vote for him?

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

He's America first and that's what we need.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

What about all the 200 billion he's spending?

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

Let's just get back to Epstein files. Let's get back to Epstein files. So you served while Joe Biden was in office. What did you do to release the Epstein files? While he was in office?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

In 2019? No.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

While Joe Biden was in office.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Let me explain. In 2019, we called for the release of those files. Elijah Cumming and I in the Oversight Committee, we called for an investigation. Now, when Joe Biden came into power, I do believe we should have released the files that I'm not defending the previous administrations because I've gotten to know these survivors and I believe that the files should have been released years ago. When we started this, we actually thought Trump would support us. Think about it. The coalition I built with Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert and Nancy Mace and Thomas Massey and Marjorie said, donald Trump, you could be a hero. You could be the president who releases these files and meets with the survivors. I was surprised and disappointed that President Trump fought it. I was surprised and disappointed.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

Let me just stop you there. Who released Epstein files? Was it Joe Biden. Was it President Trump?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, he did it because Bassie and I forced his hand with the.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

So why didn't you force Joe Biden's hand?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, we should have. I'm not.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

Why didn't you?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, because at that point there was a process, but we should have. I got to know the survivors in 2025. I got to know them personally. Had I gotten to know them earlier, I would have. And I wish someone had.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

Did Merrick Garland protect the Epstein class?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

He didn't protect. Here's what the problem was. It needed a law of Congress. The Justice Department couldn't release things because of their policy until Congress passed a law. Congress had to say, you can override the privacy considerations and you can release it. So, yeah, should. Should we have tried to pass this law in the Biden administration? Administration or first Trump administration? Yes. But let me ask you this. Now that we've passed the law, why don't you think they should just release the rest of the 3 million files and Trump, fine, he can take. Take credit for it and try to get justice for the survivors. Why aren't they doing that? I guess that's my question.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

How many files have have been early so far?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

3 million. They haven't released half of them by their own admission. And some of those files that they haven't released, those are the ones where the survivors are naming the rich and powerful men who raped them or abused them. So my question to you is, do you think that the rich and powerful people who have been legitimate accusations of rape or being pedophiles or giving money to Epstein in illegal ways, do you think they should?

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

Donald Trump has done more to expose pedophiles than Joe Biden ever did.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

No, but put aside the point. Yes, he's complied. Half complied with the law. Do you think they should investigate and prosecute them? And do you think they should release the other half of the file?

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

They should investigate everyone, including. But they're Democrat donors.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But yeah, they prosecute all. But why aren't they doing. They're not even investigating the Democratic donors.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

There are people investigate all of them.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, so you agree they should do that? I've been calling. You know, some of these people are people who donated. Steve Tisch donated to Democrats.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

Were any of your donors on the list?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Yes. Yeah, yeah, I'm for investigators.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

Have you spoken with them about the Epstein files?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I have not.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

You have not. What's holding you back from that? Well, I've said they give you money still.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I don't think so, no. One who's on. No, but I have said that if there are donors of mine who are on the list, that doesn't matter. They should still come before the Oversight Committee. There should still be investigations. This has always been bipartisan. They're probably.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

Are you going to bring Merrick Garland in to testify for the Oversight Committee?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Yeah, I'd support that. I mean, I would, yeah. To understand why the files were not released. But now, would you support the. The idea that Pam Bondi should actually open up investigations?

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

She's already been subpoenaed. She's gonna appear before that.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

She should start opening up investigations against some of these men. I mean, there's a survivor who told me she was raped at 17. The person's in the files. No investigations being open. There's no investigation open about Leon Black, about Les Wexner. Why not?

[John Regolato]

I think, like, we gotta pause there. You've been voted out by the majority.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Good to see you.

[Skeptical Audience Member]

How you doing?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Carson. Hi, Aaron. Good to see you.

[Audience Member / Critic]

Nice to meet you. I appreciate your bipartisan work. I appreciate everything you've done to expose what. What you've exposed so far, I guess. Could you define the two tiers that you're speaking about so that we all have a better definition of where you're coming from?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

So if you get a parking ticket, you get a lot of parking tickets. You know, your car will get booted, or if you do something wrong, the cops will be at your house and you'll get arrested. In this case, people who had wealth and power, extreme wealth, basically thought that they could get away with doing things that you. You or I or most people in America can't. In the worst case, they were raping underage girls on less egregious matter. They were showing up to parties where 13, 14, 15 year olds were being paraded naked, or they were hanging out with Epstein, a pedophile, knowing that he was raping underage girls, and no police were ever coming and asking them questions. That's what I mean about two tiers of justice that the wealthy and powerful use their wealth and power and connections to, to avoid justice that you and I have to face.

[Audience Member / Critic]

So I would argue that that means that there's one tier of justice and it's just for the have nots. Right? So my question to you is, it seems that most of Congress, most of our elected officials, are supported by a lot of these people who are in that other class of people.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

You're right.

[Audience Member / Critic]

So how do we have faith in our legislature to work on behalf of us the people, when we know that their pockets are being lined up by the same people that are on these islands, that are in these files, that are in these back rooms at these secret parties, that are these secret events, these terrible, horrible, nasty, disgusting things that are happening. And the most prolific child trafficker of our lifetime, they're friends with him.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

You've hit the heart of what's wrong with our democracy. Are we going to be for the working class or are we going to be for the Epstein class? And this is why I believe those files weren't exposed for so many decades. Because both parties had had donors in them. Because rich and powerful people knew politicians on both sides, and it was in everyone's interest to stay quiet. But I believe prosecuting and holding the elite accountable, taking risks like Massey and I have, the billionaires don't like us. A lot of the people in this Epstein class don't like us. They're funding primary challenges against us, but we need to stand up to them. And then we need to say no to PAC money, no to super PAC money. Get the money out of politics.

[Audience Member / Critic]

Would you agree that there are politicians who are a part of that Epstein class?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Yes, of course.

[Audience Member / Critic]

And on all sides of the aisle, yes. So are you planning on subpoenaing or bringing that up? To have anybody else who was mentioned in the files to come in, for example, somebody like, you know, President Obama, whose chief legal counsel was named in the files, Katherine Rumler.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, Rummler should come in and she should be subpoenaed. I mean, I don't believe there's any evidence genuinely of President Obama.

[Audience Member / Critic]

And I'm not saying there is.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But Rummler, Kathy Rummler, she should come in and have to answer and subpoena. And she was in the Obama administration. So this has helped hurt Democrats. Right. Steve Tisch, a Democrat, Larry Summers, a Democrat, Bill Gates, a Democrat, and Warren Mendelssohn in Britain. He was a liberal guy.

[Audience Member / Critic]

Absolutely. But my thought is anybody who's associating with these people who are friendly with Epstein. No, Epstein's a scumbag. He's been documented as a scumbag since the 90s. Right. So Obama appointed, for example. I'm just using President Obama because he's the only president of the last three presidents that hasn't been mentioned. Three or four presidents.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

He's probably been the most ethical of.

[Audience Member / Critic]

Well, that's up for debate. For whatever reason it may be. I'm registered independent, so I don't trust any. No offense to you, I don't trust

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

really any politician on a 1 to 10, how much do you trust me

[Audience Member / Critic]

right now sitting in front of you? You released the file, so I'm gonna give you like a six or a seven.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

That's not bad.

[Audience Member / Critic]

Yeah, no, that's pretty good. Yeah. Massie up like an 8 or a 9.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

How did Massie get a higher score than me?

[Audience Member / Critic]

He's going against party lines.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I went against some party lines.

[Audience Member / Critic]

You did. But he's going against Trump and the Trump base as a result.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Right.

[Audience Member / Critic]

That's a very dangerous flying.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Where do you put the trust of Obama and Trump?

[Audience Member / Critic]

I don't trust any president because I think they all have external confidence.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Okay, what about Bernie Sanders? Where do you put his trust?

[Audience Member / Critic]

I think Bernie is consistent, but I don't trust him necessarily for the American people. And I can respect consistency, but I'm actually going to step away and let somebody else come up and talk. I just wanted to hear that question.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I appreciate it. Thank you.

[Renuka (Progressive Woman)]

Hi.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Hi. Renuka.

[Renuka (Progressive Woman)]

Nice to meet you.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Nice to meet you.

[Renuka (Progressive Woman)]

I've been frustrated that it seems like everyone who is on the right that's coming here wants to move forward. As in, Trump is exonerated. And I feel like for a lot of voters, Trump was not exonerated in 2016. When the audio of him saying I grab women by the pussy.

[Independent Political Commentator]

Right.

[Renuka (Progressive Woman)]

Like when he said that for a lot of people, that was immediately, this person is a predator. Yet after all that, people still voted for him for three elections. I do think that considering the people he was running against, the Democrats aren't a real opposition to the Republican Party. That's a problem I have with the Democrats and my counterclaim to it's the two tier justice. I think this is a gender issue. I think this is about violence and sexual violence.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Yes.

[Renuka (Progressive Woman)]

And it's the fact that we're kind of even in this conversation of elites, we're kind of treating it as in women in the working class or women of color aren't facing violence outside of the elite class. Right. Women are facing violence constantly. And I think the problem also is that the burden of proof is always on the victims. And so my issue is that this is a problem with sexual violence and gendered violence. And the fact that we keep trying to go around it, the fact that we want to have good men fight bad men, it's like we need to center female voices, survivor voices to protect.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, I think it's a very thoughtful point and I actually would concede that it is not just a class issue of wealth and power. It is also a gender issue of sexual violence that can transcend class. And not everyone who was a survivor was in the working class. There was, though, a systematic effort to target people who were working class, who didn't have fathers, and an exploitiveness of people who are rich and powerful using their wealth to shield themselves from justice. But I think it is both a class issue and a gender issue. And when I go in the airports and someone stops me, the biggest thing they'll say, they'll take one minute to tell me about their story of how they were sexually assaulted or sexually abused. And I am just shocked and saddened at how common and prevalent abuse and sexual assault is in this country. How we have sort of hidden it in a box. We've pushed it aside. And one of the hopes that I have is this work can have a serious conversation about it. And the real heroes in this story are the survivors that we have tried to make their voices front and center.

[Renuka (Progressive Woman)]

I fully agree with that. My problem is that when we frame this as a structure of getting justice, the Transparency act is very important. I'm very happy that you and Congressman Massie kind of started the coalition with it. The issue is that we are seeing the transparency. The files are out there, there's egregious stuff being discussed, and there's still people wanting to kind of move the conversation away and have, like, partisan fights. And that aside, I think the problem is there's a 2% conviction rate of sexual violence predators. So it's like the Transparency act almost feels like trauma porn because Pam Bondi or Donald Trump's Department of Justice doesn't even care about hiding the survivors names. Right? So we are kind of forcing them to relive the worst nightmare, the worst moments of their lives. And we're saying, you know what? The benefit of the doubt still falls on the person who's in the files, who knew who Epstein was, who still communicated with him after he was convicted. And we don't have to, you know, try them. We're not gonna have them go through justice. And I feel like that falls short for me. Transparency is important, but if there's no justice or if there's no accountability that we're seeking at the end, that we're just trying to point blames of, like, who was with Epstein. We're not really getting the survivors.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I couldn't agree with you more, Renuka. And the survivors, of course, the survivors do believe that the release of the files was a huge thing because they've been fighting for that, but they Call me, they text me, and they say, look their names in the files of people who raped me when I was 17. And why aren't we investigating them? Why aren't we prosecuting them? And I forward those names to Pam Bondi and the deputy attorney general. There needs to be justice. And if there's not justice in this administration, the next president needs to make this a priority, because every person who actually engaged in the rape of these girls or who covered up for that rape needs to face accountability. And I totally agree with you. And it's what angers me the most, is knowing that some of the people in those files were not facing prosecution. And by the way, they're facing prosecution in other countries, in Britain, in Norway, in France.

[Renuka (Progressive Woman)]

I mean, I have to say, like.

[John Regolato]

Okay, we have to pause there. You've been voted out by the majority.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thank you. Thank you. Hi, Heidi.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

Nice to meet you.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Nice to meet you.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

It's an honor to be here. For me, I'm 19 years old. I was born in 2007. And from my understanding. Right. What I was going to say was Epstein was first taken into custody in Florida in 2006, before I was even born.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Right.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

And you said to the previous speaker that, you know, you've been in Congress for almost 10 years.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Right.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

So my question is. And I'm leaning pretty Republican here.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Right.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

Where were you, like, throughout my lifetime? You know, like, this issue has been here. We know he was the bad guy from a long time ago.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Absolutely.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

Where were you before?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, we. In 2019, and the oversight Committee spoke out about this. But, you know, I've been honest that I didn't know these survivors personally. I hadn't paid attention as much to Julie Brown's reporting. Now it's become emotional for me because I've gotten to know them. I've seen them break down in tears. I've seen how horrible it is. I know that there are so many men who abuse them, and that there is this group of people that I call the Epstein class that has gotten away with things, and it's really ugly. And it's a problem in our country because we aren't going to have trust unless we have accountability. If you can get away with raping young girls, what can't you get away with? So I do think I wish I had done this in my first year of Congress. But it's a collective failure of our country. This is not about Trump or Biden. This is about how in America are rich and powerful people getting away with raping underage girls? Or showing up at parties with underage girls, paraded naked. It is awful.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

Okay, I see. And I agree with you. I feel like in America right now, there's not a lot of issues that 90% of Americans agree on. I think Epstein files is definitely one of them. But we didn't hear about this under the Biden administration. And what I think is right now, the sudden Democrat outburst on the Epstein files, I think it's a lot about timing. It's not really about justice, because actually, Epstein was arrested both times in 2006 and then in 2019, I believe, under Republican administrations, under Bush and under Trump.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But certainly you agree that those arrests. He wasn't prosecuted in the way he should have. Right. I mean, he was given a light sentence, and that's part of what we need to investigate. Yeah, but, you know, the interesting thing here is that some of the loudest voices about the Epstein issue have been Republicans, not just Thomas Massie, Nancy Mays, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert. Jim Comer believes that there needs to be far more. I mean, that's why we have Pam Bondi coming. And I just think that this should be an issue that unites the country, that there can't be two tiers of justice. You can't have rich and powerful people playing by one set of rules, showing up at this Epstein island raping underage girls, or knowing about it and still hanging out with a convicted pedophile like that. That, to me, should be the one thing we can bring this country together.

[Renuka (Progressive Woman)]

Right.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

And actually, about that point, what do you think about Bill Clinton? Because, you know, I'm a Gen Z, I'm a teenager, I go on Instagram, and recently there was a really viral video where Bill Clinton, he was in the congressional testimony, and he was flipping through, like, the Epstein files, and he was very fondly laughing at some of the pictures, which weren't funny because he was in bathtubs with really young girls. And I just want to ask you, like, what do you think we should do with Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, I view the two separately. I mean, Hillary Clinton had nothing to do with Epstein.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

I disagree, because she. She's a great friend of Maxwell. She invited Maxwell to her daughter's wedding.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, my understanding of the facts on that is that Maxwell came as a guest of someone who was invited to the wedding. But the point is that both of them.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

But she was also a guest in 2013 at Clinton's foundation, I believe.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But that's why I voted to make sure that both of them were subpoenaed. They had to answer questions. They sat there and answered questions for six hours. Now, do you think it's fair that Donald Trump should do the same thing? He should answer the questions too.

[Skeptical Audience Member]

Right.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Just like the Clintons did.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

Personally, I don't believe Donald Trump is as guilty as Bill Clinton because Bill Clinton, in this case, Bill Clinton was 24 times on Epstein's plane and also for 17 times he was at the White House.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But Clinton never had contact with Epstein. Factually, after Epstein was convicted, Donald Trump himself, himself has said that there was contact. Do you think that Donald Trump should at least have to testify and answer questions? And he's president and he's not releasing the file.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

And I agree with that. There should be accountability, I think, on both sides of the aisle. It's not a partisan issue.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

So I think I'm for. It was for the Clintons testifying. I'm for Trump testifying. I'm for the people who are Democratic donors having accountability, Republican donors having accountability. When Massey and I did this, this is why it was bipartisan. We didn't think about, let's protect the Democrats, let's protect people on our side. We said, there's a group of people who have exploited the law. They need to be held accountable. And that's, I think, what the American people want. They know there's a rotten system where rich and powerful people get away with things and they're tired of it. My hope is people like you will say, look, let's just have accountability across the political spectrum. Take the name, the party out of it.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

I agree. I think it's not a Republican issue. It's not like a battle between Republicans, Democrats, right or left. I think it's more an issue between the elite class and the working class.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Exactly.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

The powerful and the vulnerable.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Right.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

So I think everyone should be held accountable. But it's just personally looking at those videos of Bill Clinton, I was pretty hesitant. I was like, wow.

[John Regolato]

Okay, we gotta pause there. We're out of time for this claim.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

Thank you.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thank you.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

Thank you so much.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thank you. My next surrounded claim is that Pam Bondi's Justice Department has not complied with the law in releasing the Epstein files.

[John Regolato]

If you would like to be the first person to debate this claim, get to the chair in three, two, one.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Hi, Zach, how are you? Good to see you. You're quick.

[Audience Member / Critic]

Yeah. I think the claim today is quite polite, to be honest. It's not just been a refusal to obey the law. It's been pretty flagrant. The law. You Passed said that all the files had to be released by December 19th. Did not happen. The law said you couldn't redact for political reasons. We had the redactions of Donald Trump's name. It also said the victims had to be protected.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Yeah.

[Audience Member / Critic]

And the names and even faces of many victims were released. They redacted in black ink names of the perpetrators. They released in 4K the faces and names of victims. So I wanted to ask, what are you going to do about that, Zach?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

You're absolutely right. And thanks for pointing out that I've been fair about it. I have been polite, as have Massey. I mean, we've given the Department of Justice every benefit of the doubt. Why? Because my fight is not with Pam Bondi or Blanche. My fight is with the Epstein class, with these men who raped these girls and who went to the island and covered it up. So we have three problems right now. First, they have overly redacted files, 3 million files, where these survivors have given information to the FBI, named the names, and they're not coming out. What are we going to do about that? We're going to go to court. We're going to have Pam Bondi come for a deposition. Ask her under oath. We're going to continue to put pressure in a bipartisan way to force the release like we've gotten the 3 million files. The second problem, as you pointed out, is that they have given some of the victims names out there. They've compromised the victim's identity, and for that, we've got to put them in touch with the victims lawyers. They've refused to meet. But the final thing, Zach, is there's been no investigation or prosecution. I mean, other countries, they're prosecuting these people who committed horrible acts. We need investigations and prosecutions here. Let me ask you, what do you think we should be doing?

[Audience Member / Critic]

Well, I mean, I would like to see some more accountability, frankly. You know, you're the Article one branch of the Constitution, and, you know, I think everyone here will have different views on these issues, but I think there is a common thread that we all want justice. I know you're talking about depositions. I know you're talking about other things that Congress can do. But I think, especially for young people who have grown up over the last decade, seeing the worst people get away with the worst things, seeing it never be easier to be a bad person in America. I was wondering if you had any sort of reassurance that maybe if not now, but in a year or two that there'll be some sort of justice. In America for all the crimes that have been committed, especially by the Trump administration and by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has been really the COVID up for the crime as opposed to, you know, being the Attorney general for justice.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Look, you're absolutely right. We need to be done with elite impunity. I mean, bad people have gotten away with breaking the law and facing no consequences. They caused the Great Recession, the. They sent us to war in Iraq. They're doing terrible things. We need accountability. And so I believe we will have prosecutions and investigations. They may take a new president, but we eventually will get there. But what Massie and I are going to do until then is fight with everything we have to make sure the rest of the files get released, to make sure we're calling people under oath and that they're testifying and to push for investigations and prosecutions about the men who raped these girls or who covered up for that rape.

[John Regolato]

But what about. Pause there. You've been voted out by the majority. Please return to your seat.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thank you. You're better addressed than me. Is that allowed?

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Oh, well, I wouldn't say better dressed than you. First of all, I want to thank you for passing the Epstein Files Transparency Act. That is one of the single. The Epstein files getting released is one of the single greatest acts of transparency probably in the history of the United States government. That being said, I want to make a statement and then I want to ask you a question, please. Within the confines of the law, Pam Bondi and the government did not. They didn't honor the deadline. That's indisputable. And I'm a Trump voter, by the way. That's indisputable that it wasn't followed. However, the way that the law was written allowed for. It allowed for redactions based around whether or not something was covered by legal privilege, whether or not something was under active investigation. And that, to me, is very disturbing. The Epstein case deals with wealthy elitists that have engaged in acts such horrendous acts, pedophilia. Why should they be protected by legal privilege? And why was the law written without any express penalty for the failure of the DoJ and the executive branch to meet that deadline? There was no direct penalty listed in the law that you wrote.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, you asked two very good questions. First of all, it does not protect privilege. They actually are misinterpreting the law. They have to give us all of the deliberations of why they made a decision not to charge Epstein with the full counts, why they didn't charge the Coconspirators, the law was actually explicit in saying privilege is not a grounds to conceal things. Secondly, they have to give us all the 302 forms. What are the 302 forms? Those are the survivors telling the FBI agents who are the men who raped them or abused them. They aren't doing that. They are not complying with the law. But you're right, it's an obstruction of justice. That's what they can be charged with, and that's what they have violated in the law. But if I had to do it over again, and Massey and I had to do it over again, we would have probably added a private cause of action as well. That doesn't excuse them. They still can be prosecuted for obstruction of justice. But whereas we were doing this, one of the things we probably should have added is a private cause of action. So I don't know if you've gone to law school or you should go to law school, but we're very astute to point out that that private cause of action should have been in there.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

It definitely should have been. But there's something else that you mentioned, that Britain and the UK are punishing their elitists that have engaged in this. But all I know of is that Prince Andrew suffered a civil pill, that he didn't suffer anything criminal. And President John Kennedy said many years ago that the very word secrecy is repugnant in a freeing and open society.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Yeah.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

And that we're opposed around the world to secret proceedings and to secret societies in general. And many of these horrendous acts are committed by people that have a history of dealing not only with occultism, Satanism. There's evidence of the files of some of the most horrendous acts possible. Why was this? Why were the Epstein files not pushed for release during a Democratic administration?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, it was started under, actually, George W. Bush. These women have been abandoned and they haven't had justice. 1996 is when there was a complaint to the FBI to stop Epstein and nothing happened. So this is not just a Trump issue. I've been very clear. These women have been denied justice by the Epstein class for decades. They have been rich and powerful people who've used their power in actions. And I'll answer your question to prevent prosecution. But, yes, these files should have been released during the Biden administration. But that doesn't mean that now that Massie and I passed the law that we actually got something done that we can't get justice today.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Well, I think the way to get justice today would be taking the steps that you're doing. But I think that the law should have been more tightly written to eliminate the possibility. Because this is the thing. You've seen the. You stated. I think on. I saw you on C SPAN a couple days ago, you stated you got a chance to see the full unredacted file.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

No, that's the problem. I didn't. The problem is that the Trump administration ordered the redaction of these files. March, they said to redact all of them, if anything, with survivors that talked to the FBI agents. We didn't see those files. When we went into Justice Massie and I and others, they already had been redacted.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

So what you're saying now is that members of the US Government that should have members of Congress that should have some of the highest classification access on this planet, you're telling me that you can't even see the full unprotected files?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

No. And let me ask you this. As a Trump voter, would you be for having those files be unredacted?

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Let me tell you something. In March, I'll tell you this. If Donald, they should have always. I trust the American people enough as someone that's gonna run for Congress in a couple years and possibly run for president in 15.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Just don't run against me. We'll move to my district.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Well, you know, I'm in Atlanta, so I'm safe. I'm safe. I think that what should have happened. I trust the American people without question, to see the unredacted horrors of what was going on, because I think that the criminals, the sycophants that participated in these acts should all be exposed to.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

So you agree with me that the March file should be.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Oh, they should have absolute. And I've always said this. If President Trump is guilty, which I don't believe he is, because he was the first one to. We know that he ratted on. Not ratted, but he told on Epstein

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

to the end in 2006. But this isn't about Trump. No, no, no.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

What I'm saying is that any official, any politician, any person, including the President of the United States, if he's guilty of committing sexual acts with minors, should be thrown in jail.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Let me ask you one thing, though. You voted for Trump. Does this give you concern, the way they've handled this about Trump? And why did you vote for Trump?

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Not about. I voted for Trump because he was a better pick than Kamala Harris. I voted for Trump, leaned more towards Christianity and Kamala Harris didn't. And so.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But do you Agree that the work Massie and I are doing on transparency and standing up for these girls, that's what the Christian values.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Here's the thing.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Standing up against rape and abuse.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Absolutely. Again, but we have to. Trump did tell on Epstein to the FBI, so we can't. We don't. We can't come at him in that sense. But it's. What you're doing is fantastic, and I applaud you for it. It's one of the, as I said when I sat down, it's one of the greatest acts of transparency that we've seen in the history of the United States. But again, we are still, to quote John Kennedy, I'm, you know, I see the flags coming, so I'm going to try to make this quick. To quote President Kennedy, we are still opposed around the world by a monolithic and a ruthless conspiracy whose dissenters are silenced and not praised, whose mistakes are buried and not headlined. No expenditure is questioned and no secret is revealed. And I believe that I trust the American people, I trust the entire population of this country, without question, to see the horrors of what has been allowed to go on within the halls of our government so that we can do what needs to be done and reform it from the inside out of this.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, we need your grace.

[John Regolato]

All right, pause there. You've been voted out by the majority.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Please return to your seat.

[Independent / Former Republican]

Thank you, sir.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Appreciate you. All right, Andrew, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you.

[Skeptical Audience Member]

I don't disagree with you at all that Bondi and her DOJ are violating the Epstein files Transparency Act, I would say.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I thought people were supposed to debate.

[Skeptical Audience Member]

I don't disagree with the actual claim she is. The problem is there is nothing to disagree there. She just is violating it. However, I think 90% of the responsibility is on her. It's important she should be punished for it. There's a section of the responsibility that goes to the actual language of the bill. And then by default, you as the writer, you mentioned that if you could do it again, you would put some sort of private cause of action into the bill so the DOJ could be sued to try to get the files released in that manner. Why didn't you? Would be the question.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

So, first of all, there is legal standing, right? We could have obstruction of justice brought against them. That is a cause of action. Judge Engelmar in the Southern District of New York has invited the survivors to sue because they aren't complying with the Epstein Transparency Act. But it was a herculean task to get this through Massie And I defied the odds. There have only been five discharge petitions ever passed in the history of recent Congress. We had to go against the speaker, we had to go against Donald Trump. We had to go against the senators. We had to go against people initially in our own parties. And so what we were trying to do is pass something that could get majority support. And if we had made it even tougher, it would have been hard to get the votes we did. Now, I don't think Donald Trump still knows that he signed Democrats bill. He thinks maybe it's Massey's bill. But, you know, it was a very, very hard thing. If we had more time and if we were able to get a broader coalition, we could do it. And some people are talking about, can we do a second act to the Epstein Transparency Act. But it was the best we could get through in Congress at the time.

[Skeptical Audience Member]

So is that to say that yourself and Thomas Massie considered putting a private cause of action into the bill and you chose not to for the sake of having a better chance of getting more votes?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

We did. We looked at other enforcement mechanisms and, you know, there was also a rush to do it. So if we started out with saying, oh, we're gonna sue them and we're gonna sue the administration, it would have been very hard for me to get some of the Republicans on board. Sure.

[Skeptical Audience Member]

I guess my question would be, were you actually told by Republicans in Congress that they wouldn't vote for your bill if you put some sort of cause of action or criminal penalty into the bill and that's why you made the decision, or did you just do it because you thought that's how it worked?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

We had conversations with some of the other people, Republicans, and they thought that if it looked like it was gonna be something suing the administration or going after the administration or partisan, it would be very hard to hold the coalition. If we had lost one vote on the discharge petition, the thing wouldn't have never threw.

[Skeptical Audience Member]

You could, of course, always fall back on obstruction of justice if you want some sort of punishment for not following a law like this. My fear then is that you just have more elements. Like you have to deal then with the elements of obstruction. It's not as simple as if you just put a criminal penalty into your bill or even if you wanted to go the civil route. Yeah. Put a cause of action in there so that people. My biggest concern. And while you did mention that. Yes. Judge Engelmeier, I read his writings on this.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Are you a lawyer?

[Skeptical Audience Member]

No, I'm not. One day.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Oh, Good for you.

[Skeptical Audience Member]

I've read his writings on this and yes, he did invite the survivors to sue. That's great. I think they should and I think that makes sense and they should be able to. Then you have to have the whole fight over who has standing to sue on your bill. If you just put it in the bill, you don't have to have that fight. You don't have to go through months and months of litigation. The issue, and I think this is unlikely, but there is always that looming threat of, you know, conservative majority, Supreme Court stepping in and shutting it all down. You don't have to deal with that. If you just at least in the bill specify who has standing to bring it rather than rely on, hopefully a judge agrees that this person should have standing to bring this.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

You know, I think in terms of the substance, you're absolutely right. And I'm actually there are conversations about can we amend or supplement the bill, but even that, you know, if it was that easy, you would have the votes. But the challenge is there are a lot of people who don't want that.

[Skeptical Audience Member]

And I understand you want.

[John Regolato]

Okay, pause there. You've been voted out by the majority. Please return.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Good job. Thanks. You tell yourself no one wants your college era band tees, but on Depop,

[Skeptical Audience Member]

people are searching for exactly what you've got. You once paid a small fortune for

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

them at merch stands. Now a teenager who calls them vintage

[Skeptical Audience Member]

will offer that same small fortune back. Sell them easily on Depop. Just snap a few photos and we'll

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

take care of the rest.

[Skeptical Audience Member]

Who knew your questionable music taste would be a money making machine?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Your style can make you cash.

[Skeptical Audience Member]

Start selling on Depop, where taste recognizes taste.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Life is full of choices.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But the choice between getting crispy chicken

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

nuggets or a Crunchwrap slider isn't one you'll have to make. The new crispy Chicken crunchwrap slider at Taco Bell. All white meat chicken nuggets breaded in tortilla chips, wrapped up sauce and all inside a slider sized Crunchwrap. Choose from creamy chipotle or jalapeno honey mustard.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, here we go.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Life still full of choices. The new crispy Chicken Crunchwrap slider, a brand new classic only at Taco Bell and participating in those Taco Bell locations for limited time and while supplies last.

[Independent Political Commentator]

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[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Hi, Marian.

[19-year-old Gen Z Participant]

Hi.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thank you.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Nice to meet you.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Great to meet you.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Oh, my goodness. Thank you for doing this.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thank you for being here. Finally, they called a woman. It was like, three men in a row.

[Independent Political Commentator]

I know.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Even though, like, I'm a conservative, so I'm actually fine with that.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

So let's just start there.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Okay. So I. I am a Trump supporter. I also agree that Pam Bondi did not do what the bill says that she should do. Right. My question to you is, at what point do we consider the ramifications of the names that are on this list? For instance, I did a very viral video. I went through the files that named Trump. Everyone wanted Trump to be guilty. So I went through the files.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Right.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

The vast majority of them were a bunch of crap. Right? Oh, Trump is buying whatever.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I agree with that.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Trump was, you know, a random Wikipedia page with Trump's name. However, just because the name existed in the files, Democrats ran with it. Right. I also looked at the FBI call logs. Okay. So that was the big one. The big, you know, you guys know, it had a big yellow highlighted. Everything is highlighted. All of these victims that called the FBI, and no one looked deeper to see that that particular file specifically said that these individual calls had been deemed unreliable for various reasons.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Okay?

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

So my question is. Sorry.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

You're doing great.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

What? I'm just so nervous.

[Independent Political Commentator]

You're doing great.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

You're doing great.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

But what is the space that should be left, right, by the DOJ to protect people who are in these files but are not guilty? It's a great question. Do not have a valid reason to assume just because Epstein named someone that that means that they're automatically guilty.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

You're absolutely right. I mean, there shouldn't be a witch hunt. And there are a lot of people in those files who are totally innocent, who may be mentioned because they were in a news story or maybe mentioned because someone was talking about them in an email. And I do not want this to be in any way like a McCarthy hunt, that just because you're in the Epstein files, you're guilty. On the other hand, and you would probably acknowledge this, there are a lot of rich and powerful people in those files who showed up on Epstein's island who raped or abused these girls, who had Girls trafficked to them, and they thought they were above the law. And I'm concerned, why are those people not being investigated and prosecuted? So we need to be going after the Epstein class. We don't need to go after every single person. By the way, Massey and I never made this about Trump. Now, there is an allegation about one person, one woman, who claims that she was abused or raped by President Trump when she was 13. I don't know if that's true or not. What I do believe is that the files in that case should come out.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

And I hear what you're saying. The question I would ask you is how much proof should we ask for? Right. What is the burden of proof on the people that are seeking justice to demand that these names be released? Because the moment that a name is in those files, these people have to deal with that in their real lives. Right. We're talking about people walking around with their children that now have to deal with people attacking them online, attacking them in public, saying that they're pedophiles. These people might have just known Epstein. They might have just sold him a house for all you know. Right. At what point are you guys comfortable on the left? Comfortable saying, you know what? We need more time to guarantee to go through these files personally and guarantee that we're only releasing names of people that are guilty. Because I'm super uncomfortable with the idea of releasing any name and starting, as you called it, a witch hunt when there is no reason to attack people who are innocent.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, usually the Department of Justice, as you know, doesn't release files. Right. Because they don't want people who are innocent to be caught up unless there are charges filed. The problem here is that there were women who were raped as young girls by Epstein and other men, and they called the police, and nothing happened. They called the FBI. Nothing happened. And it's been decades that they've been denied justice. So there was a bridge of justice.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Not to cut you off, but would you also agree that there are a lot of files that make claims of rape that did not happen? Because I went through a. A lot of these files, and a lot of them were unsubstantiated claims. And I'm not claiming that nothing happened on the island. It's a horrible place.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But you do believe. Let me ask you this. You do believe that more than Epstein and Maxwell were involved, of course, raping and abusing these.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Of course. But because of the horrendous nature of these crimes, I think it is irresponsible for us to relist every single name that's ever been associated with Epstein and let the left make that a claim to guilt. It is not fair.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I can't speak for the broader like,

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

what if your name is on the

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

list but actually Massey and me are in the fcp.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Should we assume that you're guilty just because you're on that list?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But no one is. But I don't. I think the American people are fair. I don't think they think that Massey or I were on the island. Just because someone's in the Epstein files doesn't mean that they're guilty.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Just because someone that your party does not do that. Right. You're aware that your party came out in the moment that these files dropped. They, they literally just searched Trump's name. They posted in there over 5,000 times and they let the left go crazy with that information. And I had to go and do this research for myself and post a video to correct this.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But let me ask you this about cuz you've supported President Trump, I'd be curious why you did. And I'd be curious if the way they've handled all of this and not releasing it has made you lose any confidence in the administration.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Absolutely not. 1. President Trump is probably one of the best presidents we've ever had. I thoroughly enjoy everything that he's doing. I have no problems with anything that he's doing. I don't care if anyone is mad about that. Also, in regards to these files, again, if you're going to be a realist and you're going to be fair, I think that it is unreasonable to ask them to release all of the files. As you mentioned, this doesn't typically happen in an active investigation. Right. This doesn't typically happen in general when it comes to evidence for.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But don't you think they now have to follow the law and open up at least some investigations against these men?

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

I agree, but I think we should have the names that need to be investigated.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I'll give you two Less Wet and Leon Black. There are credible allegations that they engaged in horrible things should.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Are there credible allegations against Trump? Because again, this came out. That was the entire left.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Why not have Pam Bondi or others open up investigations against some of these other men?

[John Regolato]

We gotta stop there. We're out of time.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Thank you so much.

[Independent / Former Republican]

Thank you.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Appreciate it. My next surrounded claim is that Howard Lutnick, Trump's Commerce Secretary, should resign.

[John Regolato]

All right, if you would like to debate this claim, please get to the chair in 3, 2, 1.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Ah, Antwan.

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

How you doing sir?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Did you bring me a hat?

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

I can get you one. You gotta come back to North Carolina with me. That's where they at.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, good to see you.

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

Good to see you too. Look, we appreciate you being here. I gotta go back to the first claim though. Just really quick.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Okay.

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

I would imagine if anyone in this room is believing criminal justice, it's me. I'm a 16 year law enforcement veteran.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thank you for your service.

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

So we appreciate what you're doing. However, I believe that Pam Bundy is doing a good job and I also believe that she is putting out the files as quick as she can with over 500 employees. I think that's what's working on this FBI going through the redacted files now.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Let me ask you, Antoine, Cause you're talking about. I think she's doing pretty well. Do you think she should open up investigations against some of these men who either gave tons of money to Epstein in allegedly illegal ways or who were allegedly on the island raping underage girls? I mean, don't you think there should be some investigations and prosecutions?

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

I absolutely do believe that and you said it earlier, Lex Wexner and Leon Black. We have to start there.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Those two, we're on the same page.

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

Absolutely. Unfortunately, I watched that four hour deposition with Lex Wexner. He funded the Epstein's exploitation of women to be power of attorney and have all access to this money.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

So on an issue like this, even though you're a Trump supporter, this crosses the aisle for you, right? I mean, you agree with what Massey and I are doing and going after

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

these type of people, criminal justice crosses the aisle for me. Now when you move into the question of justice, we have to do that. I know you stated earlier, you're getting likes and you're getting hate on both sides of the aisle. You put yourself in the predicament now, just like me being a MAGA supporter, law enforcement.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

What makes you a Trump supporter?

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

Well, number one, I think he's sort of what brother Austin said. He has tremendously helped this country when it comes to our economy. He's kept his promises. No matter what we say about being here in this room with the Epstein files. He's kept his promises. He's a law and order. He's a law and order president.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

And what about this war in Iran though? All this money going there?

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

Oh, absolutely. Well, it's finally going somewhere that we are a part of. Of course, we gave billions of dollars under your party's administration, with Biden to Ukraine to Fund a war that we had nothing to do with, don't you think?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

For now.

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

And we don't want Iran to have any nuclear weapons. I agree with you.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

He's going to come at $200 billion to Congress. You certainly don't want $200 billion right. To going to the Middle east war instead of funding things in North Carolina. Jobs, health care, child care.

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

I agree with that. But if that stops Iran from ever taking over the world with their missiles, let's make it happen. We want a safer world for everyone.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I agree with that, but I don't. Anyway, let's go back to the claims. What about Lutnick? Lutnick? Lutnick resigning. In terms of. Here's my problem with Lutnick, you know, and you tell me what, what I may miss. He went on television and he said, I never met Epstein after 2005. And, you know, Donald Trump actually in 2006 placed a phone call saying that Epstein was a terrible guy, that he was doing terrible things.

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

Now kicked him out of Mar a Lago, too, because of those reasons.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

So why would you then hire someone in your cabinet who is lying about when he met Epstein and then goes with his whole family and meets Epstein in 2012? He lied to the American public. If you lied as a law enforcement officer, would you still have your job?

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

It depends on what the lie was. But if you're looking at someone, we have to go back to Joe Biden. How about his son, Hunter Biden? They covered up the laptop deal. They did all that with the drone,

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

they did it with the weapons. I'm not going to.

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

I know, but we're going to talk about President Trump's administration, who. I think Mr. Luckman is doing a great job. Look at what he did in 911. He had over 350 employees that were killed in the 9 11.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

And that was a terrible tragedy. Yes, terrible tragedy. But don't you think he owes at least the country an apology for lying and saying, hey, I shouldn't have said that. I never met him.

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

I think he should have been forthcoming, should have been straight, honest about it. What we do know, when he went to Jeffrey Epstein's island, he was there with his family. So he couldn't have done anything malicious.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But let me ask you this. You're a law enforcement guy.

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

I am.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Someone's convicted as a pedophile. You know that they're convicted as a pedophile. Would you ever take your family to their island?

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

Absolutely not.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Okay. Why shouldn't the same standard apply to Howard Ludnick.

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

Well, because that island wasn't only of course, when you look at it, there were certain parts that some people have already testified. They had no idea that there was other portions of that island that dealt with sexual crimes. They were there to matter of fact, Mr. Lexinger said it was the worst island he ever seen. He don't even know why anybody would even purchase such a.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

You wouldn't be even close to that, let alone taking. I don't know if you have.

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

Oh, absolutely. I wouldn't be close to it. But we have to realize because you got a moral.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I can tell just talking about. You've got a moral center. You care about law and order. You have person of faith. So my point with Ludnick is he's not a bad person. I don't know him. But you can't lie about doing something like that. And what type of judgment to go to an island of someone you know is a convicted pedophile, who President Trump himself is saying did horrible things and you're still allegedly doing business with that person. Right. I'm not saying let make raped young girls. Of course. I'm not making that allegation. I'm not saying that he engaged in the conduct. I'm saying why wasn't he honest? And he showed terrible judgment.

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

Okay.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Affiliating with this guy.

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

Agree. We can move on from that. I believe he should have and he knows that he should have just became forthcoming when he was asked.

[John Regolato]

We've got a pause there. You've been voted out by the majority.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thank you. I appreciate it. Good conversation. Hi, Udua, great to see you.

[Independent Political Commentator]

I love how you say my name. Good to see you too.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Is it correct?

[Independent Political Commentator]

Yeah. So before we get into the prompt right here, I wanted to address something that you said earlier about the two tier system.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Yeah.

[Independent Political Commentator]

So obviously I work in politics, I work in policy. So I'm really asking questions on behalf of the people who are watching. The average American who may not have access to information.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

What do you do in policy and politics?

[Independent Political Commentator]

I do independent political commentary in public policy and public health. Terrific. My question with the two tier system comment that you said, do you think that it's fair for the average American's trust in the American system to increase or decrease?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Right now it has decreased and I think it's fair for it to decrease. But that's really sad for our country because we've got to do big things. We've got to provide healthcare for folks, childcare for folks. We're dealing with an AI revolution. We need a jobs program in this country for good paying jobs, and we can't do all of that if the faith is decreasing.

[Independent Political Commentator]

Okay, so something that I wanted to ask, is that a high frustration that I do have is that a lot of politicians on both sides of the aisle, they like to use moments to politicize real trauma that people go through.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Right.

[Independent Political Commentator]

It's almost like y' all taking this issue that people, real victims have gone through, and it's almost like politicizing it for personal political agenda.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But certainly you don't think Thomas Massie and I have done that, right? We always had the surroundings.

[Independent Political Commentator]

Well, to a certain situation, to a certain degree. I'm asking you, if the current administration wasn't Trump's administration, would you still have the same amount of energy and venom that you do now when it comes to pushing these files to be released?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I don't know if I have venom, but I have anger or I wouldn't

[Independent Political Commentator]

use the word venom. I apologize.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But I do have anger against these rich and powerful people who abused these young girls and how they got away with it. And I'm disgusted by the way this Epstein class was acting.

[Independent Political Commentator]

So if the current administration has switched, would you still have this same type of energy, is my question to you?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I do think so, because it's bipartisan massacre. But here's what I will say to Dr. Donald Trump. I mean, he. No, no, he. I'm giving him some credit in that he raised the public awareness of this. Right. He campaigned on this issue. And so I don't know if I would have met the survivors and paid as much attention to it if he hadn't done that. But here's what I'm most disappointed with. You know, Vance was out on every podcast saying, we're going to get the Epstein files, we're going to get the Epstein files.

[Independent Political Commentator]

That's true. He did say that.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

What happened to where is the guy?

[Independent Political Commentator]

No, that's true. I do give you that.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Where is he? Like, I don't. I don't know where. What happened to him?

[Independent Political Commentator]

Another question that I had, Nick, based, like, this is me coming from an independent. Obviously, my feelings may say, okay, he needs to resign, but also we have to back it up with facts. What, on a factual standpoint, what crime did he commit to? Okay, so you're saying based off principle.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Yeah, I don't think he committed a crime. I just want to be very clear, because I don't. I'm not in terms of. This is not a witch hunt. And I never try to exaggerate the facts. What Lutnig did is not criminal. I'm not calling for a criminal legacy.

[Independent Political Commentator]

So you're saying based off morality and

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I'm saying he lied to the American people. He said that he did not have any interaction with Epstein after 2004.

[Independent Political Commentator]

So based off morality and principle.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Morality in principle. And he's the ambassador to the world for business.

[Independent Political Commentator]

Okay, so if we're going based off morality and principles, shout out to Aaron. Because we were having this conversation prior, but he brought up a good point that we were discussing. Stacey Plasket. She was texting Epstein during a hearing. Do you think that she should step down as well? Because if you're gonna have energy on one end, you have to keep that same energy on the other.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I have called for her to be subpoenaed and I think she should be under oath and testify and we should ask her questions about it. If it came out that she told lies about her relationship or if she said previously, oh, I never knew Epstein, et cetera, then I would have the same moral standard. But here's the one difference. Stacey Plaskett has to answer to voters, right? Voters can toss her out. Howard Lutnick is appointed and I just don't. I think it's a terrible look for Donald Trump. I mean, if he's.

[Independent Political Commentator]

Another thing that I want to say and I'm sorry to interrupt.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

No, it's okay.

[Independent Political Commentator]

You said that within like the two tier system, like it's fair for the average American to lose faith within this American system or justice system. So what would you say is your argument next then? Like, if you're saying you're doing these things, what would make the average American who's watching this want to like, continue to vote, continue to engage. If you're saying, okay, I don't blame them for losing trust in the system that's supposed to break down.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

They need to see rich and powerful people being investigated and prosecuted. They need to see Leon Black, Les Wexner and others who have had serious allegations.

[Independent Political Commentator]

But is it only rich and powerful? Because some of y' all are tokens for the rich and powerful. Some of y' all are enabling certain behaviors.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

The politicians too, the politicians as well, who were involved, they need to see, you know, for so long in this country we have not had to lead accountability. The people who got us into the war in Iraq, the folks who created the great recession, the folks who bungled the pandemic response, there is no accountability. We need to have accountability for what

[Independent Political Commentator]

I call this esteemed class, again, a lot of people may be watching this and say, okay, it just sounds like a lot of politician talk, like, political talk. So the average person that's watching this, the average person that's not necessarily engaged in the political process, to them, it's like, I've heard this all before. I've heard it all.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Here's the difference. Massie and I have actually shown courage to get it done. It's not just a speech, but we actually passed a law.

[Independent Political Commentator]

The time that y' all did it, though, that's where a lot of people are pushing back. And I give you credit, 100%, I give credit for what y' all are doing. But when it comes to the authenticity of it, a lot of people are pushing back, like, okay, this.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But we took huge risk. We've taken on some of the most powerful people in our own party, donors

[Independent Political Commentator]

of our own scrutiny as well. The public wanted it.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Yeah. But we've had billionaires funding campaigns against us. We've taken risk, and we've gotten something done. It's not just idle talk. We actually did the work. We passed it through the House, the Senate. We're getting these files released. And I think people want courage. They want folks who are going to say, yeah, they want courage.

[Independent Political Commentator]

And they want. They also want authenticity.

[John Regolato]

We've been voted out by the majority.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Please refer.

[Independent Political Commentator]

Thank you so much.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thank you. Hi, Chris. Good to see you.

[Independent / Former Republican]

Thanks for coming out today.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Appreciate it. What's Mt Mount Montana? Allied Pacific.

[Independent / Former Republican]

This is the Allied Pacific. It's in the merchant fleet.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Okay, great.

[Independent / Former Republican]

Keeps our country going strong.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I'm big for the merchant fleet.

[Independent / Former Republican]

Now, I do have a couple questions with Lutnick specifically. Obviously, he said he didn't know Epstein. Then all of a sudden, okay, we were neighbors, and I met him one time. He said some creepy stuff about a massage. Never wanted to talk to him again. And then it was okay. Well, I did go to the island, but I was with my family, so nothing weird. And it's, you know, a pattern of lying.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Yeah.

[Independent / Former Republican]

So if he's lying about that, what else is he lying about? And a lot of people, and I'm speaking for other people that aren't here today, perhaps believe that, you know, through Epstein, he was compromised potentially by a foreign intelligence agency, perhaps Mossad from Israel. And through that, many people have been compromised and are skewing on both party aisles. Politicians and rich, influential people are skewing American foreign policy towards a policy of protectionism of Israel in the Middle east against American interests. To your knowledge, Is that something you find credible?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I don't know. And I've always tried to be on factual basis. So Julie Brown, who's reported about this, has said that there are legitimate questions about Epstein's ties to intelligence agencies, either here or overseas, to several countries. And what I have said is that the President should convene a task force that either declassifies information or requires us to have a report to answer these questions because they're legitimate questions. Our law does not touch the classified information. Congress can't just have a law to declassify information. So it would be pure speculation. But here's what I can say on US Israel. I mean, I have been pretty clear. I voted against the funding to Netanyahu for the war in Gaza. I voted against that when Joe Biden was president, against my own president. I have said that what happened there, as the UN has said, was a genocide. And there are people who don't like that. But I've been very clear about that. And I've said that we need to recognize a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel state.

[Independent / Former Republican]

Okay. Do you personally believe that Epstein was perhaps captured by foreign intelligence? And if not, what would be your explanation for him coming into this wealth and having the influence and power he did with these individuals?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I have no idea what the reason was. I mean, this is why we need to investigate. But one of the reasons could be that he had. He was trafficking young girls, and there could have been people who wanted access to these young girls. And so who knows what the reason was and what his ties were. But I certainly think you're not the only person who has these questions. There are a lot of Americans who have these questions. And we need transparency. And this president or the next president should have a report on what the true status of Epstein was. Just like we had the JFK files, the King files. I mean, in my sense, you tell me that this is common conversation at a bar, at a restaurant. This has gotten into the popular culture. And the American people aren't just going to move on on the Epstein matter. What do you think?

[Independent / Former Republican]

Oh, absolutely. I mean, I hear left and right on both sides, people talking about this, Epstein's relation with Barak, Ehud Barak, the former Prime Minister and head of the IDF in Israel. There are plans over in the Ivory coast where they helped President believe it was Otara maintain power with an Israeli intelligence package. They did a very similar thing in Mongolia.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

What are your politics? Are you a Trumpspur Democrat? Independent. What are your politics?

[Independent / Former Republican]

I'm independent personally. I like to Feel like I'm basically a Republican from the 90s. I believe the MAGA movement kind of destroyed the party a little bit and unfortunately now the Republicans party.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

How young Republicans like you feel about the U S Israel relationship? What do you think it should be?

[Independent / Former Republican]

Well, I'm in an awkward position cuz I do wanna just address I am a religiously practicing Jew, so probably won't be super popular at synagogue after this, but that's ok. You know, while I do have empathy for my fellow Jews in Israel, as I think anyone would for their people, I don't believe that we should be giving preferential treatment to any nation, Israel included, that is not pro America or to our ends beneficial.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

And do you agree with my view that if I'm saying that the UN found that what Netanyahu did in Gaza was a genocide, that that's very different than anti Semitism? Because some people say that if you criticize the Israeli government that that ain't a definition of anti Semitism.

[Independent / Former Republican]

Oh, I get accused online all the time of being anti Semitic and then it comes out I'm Jewish and the other side says oh, he's a Mossad agent or something. And it's very confusing. I don't know how me talking out about what Israel's doing makes me a Mossad. Maybe I'm controlled opposition, you never know.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But how do other young Republicans or people you know feel in general?

[Independent / Former Republican]

Again, I'm not a young Republican.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Okay?

[Independent / Former Republican]

Young the party left me quite a while ago.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Young independents.

[Independent / Former Republican]

A lot of young Americans just feel that a lot of our foreign policy with the Iran war, with the situation in Israel, many other things is kind of not the thing we should be focusing on. We have some of the highest unemployment rates we've had. AI is coming. That's going to be worse. The entire stock market is crashing. Actually today it got even worse as I was reading coming in here. So I think a lot of young Americans look and it's like, hey, I'll never be able to buy a house. I can't find a good job despite the fact I went to college like I was told to. And then I just see on TV that these politicians are arguing about things going on in foreign countries that have nothing to do with my life.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I mean, $200 billion in Iran, we could have free public college for everyone here. We could have good jobs programs in every community here. We could pay teachers $60,000 for that. We could have universal childcare here. Why aren't we focused on the American people? You know, who Used to say that J.D. vance, he was opposed to all these wars in Iran. He was. That was what America first was supposed to be about. Put the money here in our communities.

[Independent / Former Republican]

And the tech money kind of. The tech money kind of took him over on that one, I believe, and co opted him out of that belief.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

He's close to Peter Thiel. I mean, I know, but the point is, I don't know what happened to him. I really don't know what happened to him in terms of. Now he's advocating for spending billions of dollars in Iran. I mean, just looking at the economy, people are hurting. They can't buy a house, they can't have a good job, they can't have childcare. They're in debt for college. And what I'm saying is hold the Epstein class accountable and put the money here in the working class and middle class in America.

[John Regolato]

All right, we got to stop there. We're out of time.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Thank you so much.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thank you.

[Independent / Former Republican]

Appreciate your time. My there's no one like you and

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

there never will be.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

From the producer Bohemian Rhapsody

[Ome Congo (Activist / Father)]

There are

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

many legends, but there is only One Michael. Rated PG13. In theaters April 24th. Amazon presents Jeff vs. Taco Truck Salsa.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Whether it's verde roja or the the orange one.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

For Jeff, trying any salsa is like playing Russian roulette with a flamethrower. Luckily, Jeff saved with Amazon and stocked

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

up on antacids, ginger tea and milk.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Habanero. More like habanero. Yes. Save the everyday with Amazon.

[Independent / Former Republican]

Kraft Mac and cheese is better than 90s hip hop.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

We'll remind you of your childhood without

[Independent / Former Republican]

making you feel incredibly old.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Kraft Mac and Cheese. Best thing ever. Final surrounded claim is that Britain held a royal accountable because of their role in the Epstein files. America should hold a powerful accountable too.

[John Regolato]

All right, if you would like to debate this claim, please get to the chair in three, two, one.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Hi. Ome Congo. Great to see you.

[Ome Congo (Activist / Father)]

How are you, sir?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Good to see you. You've been sitting patiently there. You're looking for your moment.

[Ome Congo (Activist / Father)]

The yoga keeps me in Zen mode. I want to thank you so much for everything that you've done, you and Representative Massey as it relates to putting the victims first. As a father of three, including two daughters, I'm also somebody who's worked across the world with young girls who have been trafficked. I've seen young children who've been sold by their parents in places like Congo for 25 cents. And so this is something that is really important.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thank you for your work.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

No, thank you so much.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

And Belgian colonial in Congo was the most atrocious colonialism that the world has seen. I just want to say they so messed up that country, and Congo is still dealing with the consequences.

[Ome Congo (Activist / Father)]

Yes, my parents are from Congo, so I've seen that. The question that I have with all of this that weighs on my heart is that there was a comment made by Marjorie Taylor Greene at one point that representatives would actually go to the well and read the names of many of the accusers. Some names have come out, but there are more names. Why aren't more representatives going to the well and putting these names out there?

[Renuka (Progressive Woman)]

There?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, Massie and I actually did put out a couple names. Les Wexner. That's how we're getting the attention on him. And Sultan, who was the CEO of Dubai Ports, and we forced the resignation. The reality, though, is that many of these names are redacted in these files. And many of the survivors, they haven't told us the specific names. They've said, I was raped by someone at 17. They're in the files, but they haven't shared the actual name. So. So what we need is for those files to be unredacted, for those survivor statements to come out. Finally, if Marjorie Taylor Greene, she's not in Congress, but someone like her goes to the floor, it will be seen as political. And people say, what's the evidence? We really need the files to come out to have that kind of accountability.

[Ome Congo (Activist / Father)]

Well, you did have the victims also who said in one of their conferences that they were actually working to put together their own list.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Yes.

[Ome Congo (Activist / Father)]

And so why not work with them in putting that list together so that they can have a little bit of the encouragement? Because they've talked so much about being followed, being threatened, being run off the road, and making maybe if they had a little bit more support from you all, they'd be able to put that list together. And just because something doesn't appear in the files, I mean, you find these women to be credible, as many of us do as well. Why not encourage them to do that so those names could be read?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I do think the victims have been enormously courageous. They are hoping that the rest of the files still come out. When we started this, we didn't even think 3 million files would come out. But I have said to them that we will support them in any way. And if that means them putting together this list of we don't want to interfere because we don't want to politicize it, but certainly we would be supporting them and making sure that we could do whatever we can so that they aren't being sued in terms of a defamation lawsuit. And if there is some list that they themselves want us to read on the House floor, I'd be open to that. But it has to come from the victims. And really, though, what we need is the files release so that there's actual justice and investigation. I mean, the victim's just saying this thing, and then nothing happens. You know, there's still buildings named after Leon Black. Yes, indeed, In Dartmouth. I mean, how does Dartmouth not take the name down? So what they are most concerned about is even if they name these names, where's the accountability? Where's the investigation and prosecution?

[Ome Congo (Activist / Father)]

So when we're moving forward, as we're talking about that, when we talk about the UK and other places where there have been other consequences, some of these other consequences have to come from the financial ties that have been developed because they can't actually prosecute some of these cases. Why aren't we taking some of that path in the same in the United States as well?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, we should. I mean, it is. Don't you find it ironic that two American congresspeople exposed all these Epstein files, Massie and me, and yet America is doing the least to hold people accountable. Every other country is moving. Britain, Norway, France. We need to be holding the financial crimes accountable, the people who gave tons of money to Epstein knowing he was a convicted pedophile. We need to get the banks subpoenaed to testify in front of our committee. And Ro Wyden is doing a great job there. And we need either this president or the next president to actually open investigations and prosecute people. Sex trafficking has no statute of limitation.

[Ome Congo (Activist / Father)]

And what are the chances that some of the investigations that are happening in the UK and other countries could actually be made their way to the United States to help hold some of these individuals accountable who can't be named on the wall of the. Of the House.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, I believe that what happens in UK often happens six months later in the United States. So the fact that. That there is. This may bring down the British government, it has totally tarnished the British monarchy. And that is going to create public pressure here in our country to say, we want to hold this Epstein class accountable. What message does that send to the young girls you work with if the elite are going to get away with this and have no accountability?

[John Regolato]

All right, we've got to pause there. You've been voted out by the majority. Please return to the vote.

[Ome Congo (Activist / Father)]

Thank you so much.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thank you. Appreciate it. Santana. Good to see you.

[Santana (Critical Audience Member)]

Likewise, I wanna start off by saying that if you do run in the next election, you got my vote.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

The Congress.

[Santana (Critical Audience Member)]

Yes. All right, President. Whatever.

[Steven (Supporter of Accountability)]

Wow.

[Santana (Critical Audience Member)]

No.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Where do you live, Santana?

[Santana (Critical Audience Member)]

I actually live in Washington State. One thing, though, that kind of pulls me back is the issue with all of your claims, not just this claim, right? We can talk about the actual accountability that's had in the uk, but if you take a look at the actual accountability, it's been all performative. Right.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Interesting.

[Santana (Critical Audience Member)]

When you talk about the actual titles being stripped in 2019, when you talk about the military duties being stripped in 2022, or you talk about the official royal titles being stripped in 2025, all of it has been performative. Even when Andrew went to jail, it was based off of misconduct in public office. And the premise that the United States of America should follow suit of the uk, it speaks to some other country, not us.

[Independent Political Commentator]

Right?

[Santana (Critical Audience Member)]

The United States is supposed to be. Ronald Reagan said, the United States is the shining city on the Hill.

[Trump Supporter from Delaware]

Yeah, right.

[Santana (Critical Audience Member)]

And also, if we want to be number one in the world, we claim to be number one. Right. Then we should actually take this issue and make this issue our issue.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

That's a fair point, actually. It's a fair critique. Look, we aren't even doing what UK is doing. We aren't even doing what Norway is doing. But your call saying we should be setting the moral standard for the world, we shouldn't just be following, and that the actions in Britain don't go far enough. I agree with that. And I would love to see a new president come in and say, we are going to go after the rich and powerful who raped these girls or abused these girls, or showed up to parties where girls were being paraded naked. We're going to go after the financial crimes and that we are going to have a single system of justice in this country.

[Santana (Critical Audience Member)]

Well, see, and you talk about a single system. I look at a lot of things through an intersectional lens.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I agree with that. And talk about things race, gender, class.

[Santana (Critical Audience Member)]

Exactly. Right. So you can talk about the ultra wealthy versus the, you know, the haves and have nots. But if you don't take a look at how everyone is impacted by the different things that happen within the country, then, like, we're leaving a lot of meat on the bone.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, look, I mean, I don't have to tell you about the problems of mass incarceration, the fact that one in three black men will find some time in jail. And this is because of the war on drugs. This is because of mandatory minimums. This is because we've had an intentional policy in this country targeting in the criminal justice system, black men. So we've got to talk about race and we've got to talk about gender. Class is also an issue, but I don't believe that we can just talk about class and ignore that. We've had 250 years of slavery in America and 100 years of Jim Crow in America, and we've had previous instances in the fifties and sixties of black men being beaten, black women being beaten, and no prosecution. So elite impunity is not something new in America.

[Santana (Critical Audience Member)]

Yeah, well, and if you talk about the Constitution of the United States of America, when it was first written, it was written for white men that own land and everyone else after that has been given the rights. And if we want to ever really make our country great, then there's so many things that we have to do, but we have to address the original sins of our country and then actually look to do things to better our country. And just saying, like, oh, well, I'm

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

a believer in this country's founding principles. Right. My grandfather spent four years in jail as part of Gandhi's independence movement in the 1930s and the 1940s. I was born in Philadelphia, our bicentenary. And as we're coming to our 250 year history, I just saw 1776 at the Ford's Theater and how Jefferson, actually, initially in the Declaration of Independence, wanted to say that the scourge of slavery needs to be ended. But to get the votes of the southern colonies, South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, they had to take the vote, that passage out of the Declaration of Independence.

[Santana (Critical Audience Member)]

Do you think that's what you've been doing so far? And taking that same sense as far as, like, you understand that you have to play political lines and so you haven't been as aggressive as you want to be. Because there's a lot that's happened. And when you talk about the Epstein Transparency Act, I look through it and there's so many loopholes that has lent itself to not being accountable. And that's why Pam Bondi, Donald Trump, all the other people, they've been able to skirt through, but that's because of lack of teeth as a whole.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, I think we should have had a civil cause of action, as I said, but they're certainly being breaking the law and they can be prosecuted for obstruction of justice. But my view is that a new administration needs to come in and have the elites accountable, not just in the Epstein matter. But the people who blew up the boats of fishermen in the Caribbean, the folks who shot Alex Preddy and Renee Goode, the folks who dismantled usaid.

[Santana (Critical Audience Member)]

But do you think that'll happen?

[John Regolato]

Because we gotta pause there. You've been voted out by the material.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Please return to your. Thank you.

[Renuka (Progressive Woman)]

Hello.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

You're back.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

I am.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

You were so eloquent last time. Take it easy on me.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

No, absolutely not. All right, so, one, I actually do agree that anyone that is guilty should be held accountable. Okay? So when I first spoke with you, I said, we cannot take being named in these files as an admission of guilt or as proof of guilt. My other frustration, and I have to

[Independent Political Commentator]

say,

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

what do you think should be the level of proof when it comes to actually holding someone, as you call it, accountable? And what do you want to see done to these people? Because again, just being mentioned is not enough to send someone to jail.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

It's a great question. Well, I think there are different standards of proof. For a person to be actually convicted of a crime, it has to be proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Now, I do believe that there are people like Les Wexner, Leon Black and others where there should at least be an investigation and there may be evidence to prosecute beyond a reasonable doubt. But in terms of having buildings named after you and being on honorary boards and being in positions there, I don't think the standard needs to be reasonable beyond a reasonable doubt. If your name is tarnishing the reputation of an institution, a lot of them have those clauses that if you've named a building but your name becomes toxic, then they can take action. I believe if they're serious allegations, you should be removed.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Is an allegation the same as proof? Because I'm. So, as a black woman, as a brown person, you know that there are black and brown men in jail off of allegations, not actual proof.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But most of the people in these people, most of these allegations aren't against black and brown men. Most of these people are ultra wealthy folks. I mean, let me tell you an example of one survivor. She went to Santa Monica, she accused this person of rape. They said, who is this person? Well, I don't want to mention her name. She's one of the survivors. And then they told her, come back a week later, because you may not have gotten it right. They still didn't do anything right. This was 1997. There are a lot of cases of women who have made legitimate claims and they were doing it.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

But when I say a legitimate claim, again, so I will say I have a cousin that went to jail for multiple years because his girlfriend claimed that she raped. Okay. I am very much pro any abuser being in jail, but I'm also pro the complete burden of proof, you understand? Because it is not okay to accuse anyone of doing something absolutely horrible and then not demanding that it is beyond a reasonable doubt that they have.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Totally agree. But that's.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

So when you're saying that all of these people have been accused again or that they might be implicated, that is not enough to demand that their lives be turned upside down again. If these people are guilty of something, I want them held accountable.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Do you believe some of them Them are.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

I'm sure they had to be, right? Some of them had to be. The frustration I have with the left is that there's this demand for so much accountability when it comes to the rich and the elite, because you just want to hate the rich and the elite.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Forgot I represent the Silicon Valley. It's $20 trillion. There are a lot of people like Jensen Huang, who I admire, who is leading Nvidia. There are people like.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

I don't want to get sidetracked. Sorry. So my frustration is, as a regular, everyday American citizen, I feel that I am more likely to be harmed by democratic policies such as open borders.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Because in your state, unfortunately, secure borders.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Okay, so. But in your state, something like 4600 or so illegal migrants that had criminal records were re released from jail. So when we're talking about harming Americans, when we're talking about children potentially being harmed, when we're looking into child trafficking, we have to acknowledge that illegal migration is the biggest funnel for child trafficking. So when we're worried about Epstein with a couple of people and you guys turn a blind eye to tens of

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

thousands of children being harmed, that by your policy, we have been for secure border. But here's what I want the no

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

one in California can say that they're forced secure border.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, that's a policy I've been pushing for. But let me say this. Instead of having ICE raids in places like Minneapolis killing Americans like Alex Pretty and Renee Good. And doing raids on undocumented folks here who may be paying taxes and having a restaurant, how about we have the focus on the border to stop the terrorists or to stop the gangs or to stop sex trafficking? I ran.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

If you're worried about sex trafficking, why

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

is your focus on the border on

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

rich people who are committing significantly less sex trafficking crimes? Not saying that they're innocent, but your. Your anger towards this seems very skew and very hypocritical.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

To them is because they are feel like they're above the law that they use.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

And so do these migrants that get right back out of jail when you guys let them out.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

But I am not.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

They are above the law. They are at a tear that gets to walk free whenever they want.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I believe that if you've committed a violent crime or a terrible crime in this country, you should face deportation.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

But you guys don't do it. You believe it, but you let these people go.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Obama had a record of having secured the border and there were a lot of criminals who were deported. What I don't agree with is what ICE is doing, putting terror in communities. I mean, let me ask you this.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

I feel comfortable with ICE around. I'm not a criminal illegal immigrant. So I feel very comfortable. I'm not terrorized by them.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

And I'm from New York, New York.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Brooklyn, New York.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Okay, there's an undocumented immigrant here, right? Came across without their papers and they opened a restaurant and they've been here.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Why? Why are they allowed to do that?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Let me ask you this.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

Why are they taking that place away from someone else?

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Right? Let's say they've been here 10 years and they're paying taxes. Do you think I should go and try to deport them or do you think that we. So we just disagree there?

[Independent / Former Republican]

I think that.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

I think that if you're going to go after someone that was on Epstein's island 10 years ago, then you should go after people that came here legally 10 years ago. I think it's disingenuous for you guys to be focused on thing that's so much smaller than this really large issue

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

looking at someone who came here undocumented for the American dream. Now I'm for my parents came here through the legal process. We should have a path to legalization. And since it's people like yourself, it is so enriched and powerful people who are rigging the system and feel like they're totally above the law. I mean, the people. An undocumented person is much more vulnerable. They don't have access to politicians.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

They're vulnerable because of your powers that make them vulnerable.

[John Regolato]

We gotta pause here. You've been voted out by the majority.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thank you. Thank you. Hi, Steven. Good to see you. Thank you for being here.

[Steven (Supporter of Accountability)]

I will have to say I totally agree with you and also with the gentleman earlier who said that America should not only be following the example of England and these other countries that are enforcing justice due to the Epstein files, but also that we should Be leading Prince Andrew, former Prince Andrew, eighth in line to the throne. The Great Britain Ambassador to the United States, the former Prime Minister of Norway, Latvia, Lithia, Lithuania, Estonia, France. So many countries charging people. And in the United States, I believe two have been charged with crimes.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Yes, Epstein and Maxwell.

[Steven (Supporter of Accountability)]

Exactly. And you gave credit to Marjorie Taylor Greene, our earlier said, you know, I'm cursing Donald Trump for finally making me agree with Marjorie Taylor Greene. And reportedly Donald Trump said to Marjorie Taylor Greene when she was saying, as you mentioned, be a hero, you know, do this. He said, but it'll hurt my friends.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Yeah, well, that's.

[Steven (Supporter of Accountability)]

That goes back to the two tiered justice system.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Exactly. This is the reason that the files haven't come out for decades. This is the reason these women were abandoned for decades. Decades. Because there were these rich and powerful people on both sides and they knew politicians, they knew presidents. I mean, isn't it a terrible statement of American democracy that Epstein knew both Bill Clinton and Donald Trump? Like, what type of country are we living in? That. That is this Epstein class's tentacles into our ruling leaders. We need a clean start in this country. We need a new generation that hasn't been tainted by this kind of corruption to have a new moral direction for America.

[Steven (Supporter of Accountability)]

Totally agree. And I think it should also go back to Acosta, who gave him that first, you know, amazingly good plea deal. You know, there are probably people who have gone for, you know, a marijuana cigarette, have gone to jail for longer than he did for that with being

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

able to be at home. I mean, a guy is someone who Raped girls under 18. It's the one thing Americans agree on. Republican, Democrat, MAGA, progressive, you don't rape American girls. You don't rape young girls. And this person was doing it and trafficking them and abusing them. And he goes to jail for one year and then also that he can be at home. And he, by the way, continues his abuse after. It is a disgusting moment for this country. And we need to have a moral reckoning. And we need to have a moral reckoning with why so many elites, business elites, Silicon Valley elites, technology and Hollywood elites were fine hanging out with him after all of this?

[Antoine (Law Enforcement Veteran)]

Yes.

[John Regolato]

All right, we gotta stop there. You've been voted out by the majority. Please return to your seat.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thank you. Sure, I did. Hi, Austin. Good to see you again.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Good to see you again, Congressman. So I'm gonna start this off with a quick question. When was the last time that the US Federal government was found guilty and held accountable for inherent acts of corruption and extreme acts of corruption. Case in point, the assassination of Martin Luther King. The government was found guilty of a civil suit in the night. And we know it's been well documented that there have been multiple pieces of evidence presented that the US Government itself may have been involved in the assassination of President John Kennedy after he signed Executive Order 11110, which began the process of directing the treasury to issue silver bullion certificates. He lost his life a couple weeks after he signed that order. Nobody was held accountable for that en masse. Can you tell me of an instance when the rich and the elite that have put many of the other congressmen like yourself in office have actually been held accountable for the crimes they've committed?

[Santana (Critical Audience Member)]

Committed.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Well, there certainly have been people held accountable in the savings and loans crisis. There have been people held accountable in the financial crisis, though not enough.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Right.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

We should have prosecuted the bankers in the Great Recession, and that was one of the big misses that we haven't. And we haven't had enough accountability for people who got us into the war in Iraq. And I believe we haven't had enough accountability for people who raped these young girls or trafficked. So if you're saying that we have a problem of elite impunity, that rich and powerful people in this country aren't held accountable, you're right. And that's what I'm trying to challenge.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

Well, I think what we have a problem with is that the rich and the elites can purchase politicians. This is exactly why I'm very pro getting rid of Citizens United. The overturning Citizens United.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I agree with that. But would you agree that we shouldn't have had Musk spend $300 million, elect Donald Trump and then go work through Donald Trump?

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

I agree with that. Would you also agree that instances like that, like when the Biden administration was targeting Facebook and Twitter for anyone that was offering, we'll say, contradictory to the mainstream narrative information around Covid. These people had their accounts banned. Creators had their.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I'm a free speech person and I've spoken up for free speech.

[Trump Voter / Aspiring Politician]

I saw you have a digital free speech bill of Rights that you.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

I do have a digital free speech. When they were censoring on Twitter before Musk voted, I actually had an email leak where I said, no, you can't do that. You can't censor that. It's New York Post. I'm a big free speech person. But what's distorting free speech are billionaires spending millions of dollars on federal elections and targeting folks. I mean, Mass is being targeted because he had the guts to pass this bill. He's got billionaires literally putting millions of dollars against him. That is wrong. We've got to get that money out of politics.

[John Regolato]

All right, we've got to pause there. Please return.

[Congressman Ro Khanna]

Thank you. Well, that was great. I thought you all were really well practiced and confident and eloquent. You made great points. You kept it civil. You know, you should be very proud and hopefully your families and friends will be proud when they see these clips. But I think that this is the kind of civil exchange that we need to model in this country. So thank you and thank you for having a really great session.

[John Regolato]

All right, and we are out of time. That does it for this episode. Let's give a hand to the representative. Thanks for being here. Please acknowledge the humanity of all the participants when you're commenting on this video. Thank you all for being here and sharing your stories and your perspectives on this very important issue. Tune in Wednesday for a follow up conversation with me and some of the cast members in the circle. Here we will dig deeper into some of the highlights from this video. Thanks for watching. We'll see you next time.

[Conservative Trump Supporter Woman]

I am not a fan of the Epstein Files Transparency act simply because I don't think it makes sense for the general public to know this much information about this case. I definitely tried to grill him a bit, so I felt positively about his responses. I do think he was a little political, a little politically correct.

[Skeptical Audience Member]

He definitely came with his prepared talking points. As for whether or not I believe him means what he says and he believes what he says and he's actually fighting the good fight. After the conversation I had with him kind of initially walking in here, I didn't at all, which is actually what I wanted to press him on. I very much felt like he was, I'll use the word, I genuinely believe he was lying about his reasonings behind not putting any sort of penalties into the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Then after talking to him, I maybe do kind of, I think he's telling the truth a little bit.

[Independent / Former Republican]

I think everyone kind of came in with their own agenda here today, which I'm definitely guilty of. But yeah, no, I think everyone held their own. Even people I didn't necessarily disagree with, I mean, agree with, rather were very good and eloquent about stating their points. And yeah, I think it was a good talk overall.

[John Regolato]

Don't forget to subscribe to Surrounded wherever you get your podcasts so that you don't miss an episode. And if you want to watch the video version of Surrounded, subscribe to Jubilee on YouTube.