#BecauseMiami: For the Epsteinth Time…

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: #BecauseMiami: For the Epsteinth Time…
Date: November 14, 2025
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Guests/Panelists: Billy Corben, Roy, Julie K. Brown, Representative Angie Nixon, Jamie Raskin (clip)
Theme:
A wide-ranging conversation centered on recent political developments in Washington (specifically, the end of the federal government shutdown and its fallout), corporate influence in politics, Democratic Party in-fighting, and a deep-dive into the newest twists in the Jeffrey Epstein/Ghislaine Maxwell saga—plus the legacy of Miami’s notorious political dynasties.

---

Main Theme & Purpose

The episode explores two main threads:

1. The disappointing resolution of a federal government shutdown and its repercussions for voters, progressive Democrats, and working-class Americans.
2. The ongoing, disturbing revelations and apparent corruption in the Epstein-Maxwell case, including new reporting by Julie K. Brown of the Miami Herald that points to continued sweetheart treatment for Maxwell and revisits the relationships at the heart of Epstein's original plea deal.

Between these major topics, the hosts and guests layer in pointed critiques of both major American parties, connect national issues to local Miami politics, and amplify the voices of citizens frustrated with entrenched power and lack of true representation.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Federal Government Shutdown Resolution (00:00 - 14:38)

• Criticism of Democrats for Caving on the Shutdown:

  • Billy Corben opens with frustration at Senate Democrats for accepting a Republican offer to end the shutdown in exchange for little more than a non-binding promise to vote on Obamacare subsidies.
  • Billy (00:48):

    "Democrats never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. ... This lack of a backbone, this fecklessness, this spinelessness..."

  • The unpopular deal is regarded as a betrayal of working-class Americans, many of whom hoped the party would hold out for more substantive benefits.

• Representative Angie Nixon’s Perspective (04:05):

  • "Republicans ... can basically inflict harm and terrorize people and starve people without actually governing ... using cruelty as a shortcut to power." (04:05)
  • Nixon also critiques her own party’s corporate ties:

    "...We're electing people who represent the people, who are only beholden to the people and not the folks that make billions and billions of dollars and continue to pad their campaign coffers." (06:41)

• Discussion about Primary Challenges & Democratic Leadership (07:11):

  • Roy asks about potential primary challenges for Democrats who voted for this deal, including speculation about AOC’s ambitions.
  • Nixon responds:

    "Hell, you know, I primaried someone before ... I am not against, you know, primary people if they are not doing what their constituents need." (07:36)

• Voter Cynicism and Turnout Concerns (11:34):

  • Billy expresses concern that Democratic voters, seeing little difference between parties, may feel demoralized:

    "...We come out and vote and we get screwed irregardless." (12:45)

  • Nixon says increasing turnout now relies on making clear the true source of pain:

    "...it's going to be incumbent upon us ... to let folks know that the Republicans are really to blame for the majority of the pain and suffering that we are facing right now." (12:51)

• Wrap-up Poll about Economic Relief (14:38):

  • Tongue-in-cheek poll on who expects real economic help:
    • "A quick poll before we go. How many of us think that we are going to get a $2,000 tariff div. A dent check. Quick show of hands. ... That's a hell no." (14:38 - 14:49)
  • Corben and Nixon underscore continued corporate welfare while everyday people remain ignored.

---

2. Jeffrey Epstein/Ghislaine Maxwell, Corruption, and Cover-Ups (19:50 - 35:38)

Maxwell’s “Room Service” Prison Conditions (19:50 - 23:34)

• Julie K. Brown and Jamie Raskin (clip) share:

  • Maxwell is allegedly receiving exceptional perks in prison (access to gym and showers, direct communication with the outside via the warden), in clear violation of BOP policy.

    "She gets essentially room service behind bars ... She can use the shower, she can use the gym whenever she wants to." (20:04 - Jamie Raskin)

  • Notably, Maxwell is the first sex offender admitted to that camp, after intervention from Trump’s former lawyer Todd Blanche now at DOJ.

    "She got in pretty much on an overnight basis after she met with Todd Blanche..." (20:27 - Jamie Raskin)

• Maxwell Pursuing Clemency or a Trump Pardon (22:17):

  • Brown reports Maxwell is preparing a commutation application, as her legal appeals are exhausted:

    "She clearly has made it known that she wants either some kind of clemency or she wants, you know, Trump to pardon her." (22:17)

Fresh Leaks and Ongoing Corruption (23:34 - 25:01)

• Brown suggests that Maxwell’s new privileges may be fueling a series of new leaks (like the Trump-drawn birthday card for Epstein):

  "...I suspect that one of the reasons why we're seeing all these leaks now is because Maxwell is in this lower security facility. ... I think she is out there trying to, you know, orchestrate some kind of a pardon or a clemency." (24:18)

Right-Wing Politicization and Ongoing Coverup (25:01 - 27:16)

• Billy criticizes the right-wing’s use of the case for political grandstanding while the victims’ needs are neglected:

  "...the President always has kind words for Ghislaine Maxwell of all people. ... this is not a woman who is just an enabler ... she was very much a perpetrator of these crimes." (25:54)

• Brown reinforces how involved Maxwell was:

  "...she helped literally abuse them in. According to court testimony during our trial..." (26:47)

Revelations About the Original Epstein Plea Deal (27:16 - 33:57)

• Brown breaks news that previously-unknown meetings occurred between Jeffrey Epstein and Matt Menschel, a top prosecutor in charge of his original case.

  "This is one of the most well known notorious sexual abuser of young girls in our history, and you are meeting with him when you were technically one of his prosecutors." (29:08)

• Brown confirms via DOJ footnotes that one of Epstein’s attorneys was romantically involved with Menschel during negotiations.
• The team describes how the original sex trafficking charges (60 counts) were sabotaged by the DOJ hierarchy, giving Epstein a sweetheart deal over the objections of the lead prosecutor, Anne Marie Villafaña.

  "This deal went through even though, and she had to sort of then sign on to it..." (32:47)

The Real Victims and Congressional Grandstanding (34:13 - 35:38)

• Brown laments how political theater has overtaken the search for justice:

  "The way that this is turned so political sort of obscures really what's important ... the way that the victims are still being treated as an afterthought..." (34:13) "If they really wanted to know what would happen, they wouldn't be doing what they're doing now, which is ... a lot of grandstanding..." (35:00)

---

3. Miami’s Political Dynasties: The End of an Era? (35:39 - 37:53)

• Billy Corben and Roy reflect on the fading power of Miami’s infamous political families (Carollo, Suarez, and Diaz La Portia).

• Recent election results and term limits signal shifting tides:

  "This election, as we said last week, is really a referendum on the Miami Mafia and the dynastic political crime families that have plagued this community for so long." (36:09)

• Billy recounts the lifetime ban on Francis Suarez running for Miami government:

  "He can never run for city of Miami government ever again... I'm certain his plan was to like lie low and then come back like his dad did..." (36:59)

• Humor about “another cake with a mug shot on it” if lawsuits keep families in office, punctuating the segment with Miami’s distinct blend of civic drama and satire.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Billy Corben on Democratic Compromise:

  "Democrats never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity." (00:48)

• Rep. Angie Nixon on Both Parties’ Corporate Loyalties:

  "...they're serving the same corporations ... Corporate PACs should not be allowed to donate to candidates ... And so I think it's time we start looking at electing people who aren't necessarily millionaires..." (06:01)

• Julie K. Brown, on the Epstein/Maxwell Scandal:

  "She gets essentially room service behind bars ... her presence in that camp facility itself is completely astonishing..." (20:04 - Jamie Raskin, paraphrased by Brown)
  "She clearly has made it known that she wants either some kind of clemency or she wants, you know, Trump to pardon her." (22:17)

• Billy, on National-to-Local Parallels:

  "The Miami of today is the America of tomorrow. And the only thing transparent in Miami is the corruption itself." (21:31)

• Julie K. Brown, on Congressional Handling of the Epstein Case:

  "If they did, they would have Marie Vilafana on the stand. If they really wanted to know what would happen, they wouldn't be doing what they're doing now, which is ... a lot of grandstanding..." (35:00)

• Billy Corben on Miami’s Political Families:

  "This election ... is really a referendum on the Miami Mafia and the dynastic political crime families that have plagued this community for so long." (36:09)

---

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Federal Shutdown Debate and Democratic Rift:
  00:00 – 14:38
• Ghislaine Maxwell & Epstein Prison Revelations:
  19:50 – 35:38
• Miami Political Dynasties & Election Fallout:
  35:39 – 37:53

---

Tone & Style

The episode maintains The Dan Le Batard Show’s signature irreverent, candid, and sometimes combative style. Commentary is sharp, often laced with sarcasm, exasperation, and humor, yet deeply grounded in clear-eyed calls for justice and good governance—whether in DC or Miami.

---

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of politics, justice, and local governance—especially those tired of surface-level coverage. The panel unpacks national narratives with local expertise, exposes the players behind the headlines, and offers a bracing reminder that true change starts well beyond the headlines, at the ballot box and in the streets.

Transcript

[Billy Corben]

The breakthrough. After nearly six weeks, the federal government shutdown looks set to end. We have support from enough Democrats. Five new Senate Democrats joined three others voting to no longer block the reopening of the government in exchange for a concession that Senate Republicans had been offering for weeks to hold a vote on extending Obamacare subsidies. It is sparking a deep divide among Democrats. Many progressive Democrats are accusing their Democratic colleagues of caving by not getting Republicans to agree to more. I think it was a terrible, terrible vote. At a time when we have a broken health care system, this is going.

[Dan Le Batard]

To make our health care system even worse.

[Billy Corben]

Democrats never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. And this is sort of exemplifies why I am an NPA right now. No party affiliation, which is how I started my life as an 18 year old man in Miami in 1996, voting in my first presidential election, then was an NPA for most of my life. Became a. I was a Democrat for less time than Donald Trump was a Democrat, I'll put it to you that way. Switched back to NPA last year because of just this kind of foolishness. I mean, just this lack of a backbone, this fecklessness, this spinelessness with the.

[Roy]

Only pro in this situation is getting people getting back to work.

[Billy Corben]

Yes, some people getting back to work, but what was the sacrifice for, Roy? What was this about? We were taking a stand here. When I say we, I don't mean Democrats, because I'm not a Democrat. I'm talking about Americans who wanted to ensure that there was no compromise on their health care. People are going back to work, Roy, but their premiums are going to be like, I don't know, thousand times more expensive. What's the difference if you're working or not? People work so they can pay for their health insurance, they can pay for the rent, they can pay for their groceries. Nobody can afford any of that shit, Roy. So what was the point of this sacrifice and this shutdown and taking a stand if you're going to fold like a cheap suit the second you get what you want, which is everybody's votes in the election last week? That's what's so cynical about it too, Roy, is that, you know, this shit was all in play and this was all. They were just waiting for election day to go by. And then the Democrats struck this deal all of a sudden out of nowhere. And what this does is it reinforces the cynicism of Democrats, independents, NPAs who say, oh, it doesn't matter who I vote for, both sides are the same. It doesn't matter. None of them are looking out for, for the working people or for the farmers or for that. And I don't think that's true. But it does reinforce that kind of attitude amongst people and it discourages people from voting is what it does. And the Democrats were winning the messaging war. They were winning elections, as evidenced by this past week. And then they're like, no, we good? I mean, what the. It doesn't make any sense. I'm not saying ride hungry people, the momentum of hungry and out of work people into the midterms next year. I'm saying stand for something, okay? Nobody can afford $8,000 a month for health insurance. I don't care if you're getting your job back. Like, it doesn't make any sense. I just don't understand what they're. And the second I get all these fundraising text messages from, you know, Democrats and I'm like, get out of here with that. Get out of here. This was total and utter capitulation. There is no deal. What is the deal? Representative Angie Nixon. I'm sorry, I'm just ranting and raving and she's waiting so patiently with some pretty creepy funko pops behind her on the shelf. Angie Nixon represents Duval County, Jacksonville, where she is a native, a proud daughter of Jacksonville, who she now represents in the Florida State House. Deal or no deal? What is the. And in a deal, doesn't somebody get something in exchange? Doesn't every, like, what did the Democrats get here? What did the American people get out of this Senate deal?

[Representative Angie Nixon]

You know, Billy, I would say in some ways you are correct, unfortunately. What paving right now just basically reaffirms that Republicans and Donald Trump can basically inflict harm and terrorize people and starve people without actually governing. Right. It's really just a way in which they're using cruelty as a shortcut to power. And so it's very unfortunate that nearly 20 million people are potentially going to lose health care or their health care is going to rise to a point where they cannot afford it. And so it's very unfortunate and I think we need to start looking inwards as Democrats to make sure that we are looking out for working families and low income people and really trying to make sure that their quality of life is improving and that we're pushing transformative change.

[Billy Corben]

There was a promise, there was a promise from Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Senate Democrats, and we heard it time and time again from some of the eight senators who voted for this, which is that there will be no compromise. There will be no deal. There will be no vote to reopen the government unless those health care subsidies on how to fund those are on the table at least for a year, at least for some period of time. But instead, they made a deal. They voted to reopen the government with absolutely nothing but, like, the hope of a promise of a plan in the near future to have a vote for these subsidies that won't pass. Like, what happened? What?

[Representative Angie Nixon]

Be real, right? Like, both parties, and I am a Democrat, right?

[Billy Corben]

Nobody's perfect.

[Representative Angie Nixon]

Billy, but both parties, the majority of them, I just say, like, they're serving the same people, they're serving the same corporations, right? And so I think we really need to look at getting corporations out of politics. Like, there needs to be some critical reform happening, right? Like corporate PACs should not be allowed to donate to candidates, right? Like, those are the people that are driving the policies that we are seeing throughout our country and definitely throughout the state of Florida. And until we do that, working class families will never actually have the opportunity to have their voices heard. And so I think it's time we start looking at electing people who aren't necessarily millionaires, right? Like, who are actually working families. Because I'm getting screwed. Many of my constituents are getting screwed. And so we have to make sure we are representing people. We're electing people who represent the people, who are only beholden to the people and not the folks that make billions and billions of dollars and continue to pad their campaign coffers.

[Roy]

Well, it seems like the American voters seems to be pretty upset about this decision that these Democrats have made here in the Senate. Do you believe that some of these Democrats could get primaried? And is there a chance that AOC might be gunning for Chuck Schumer's job?

[Representative Angie Nixon]

You know, I think there are a lot of folks that are going to be primaried. Hell, you know, I primaried someone before, and now I am a sitting member of the House of Representatives here in the state of Florida. And so, you know, I am not against, you know, primary people if they are not doing what their constituents need, right? Like, right now, our families are suffering. They're suffering. We had 42 million Americans who were starving, right? And it was simply because people want to play political games. And right now, we don't have time for that. There are people who are living on the streets. There are people who are so afraid to live in this country that are trying to figure out ways in which they can get access to a passport so that they can leave we deserve to be in this country. And unfortunately, folks like Donald Trump and the Republicans that are of his ilk think otherwise. And cruelty is the point. Again, they are using cruelty in a way so that they can have a shortcut to power. And this is really harming people. And so again, I think we need to get money, this big time money out of politics. And things would definitely change if you had Democrats and Republicans, Republicans who could only get campaign donations from regular working people. I think that they would only listen to regular working people as it relates to policies that they would push.

[Billy Corben]

I want to clarify. Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, AOC, is a United States representative. Yeah, she's in the House. She's in the House. So she is not gunning yet for Senator Schumer's job. She would have to run for Senate New York first. But that doesn't mean she's not out for Hakeem Jeffries job, which could also be up for grabs. I mean, he represents a new generation of Democrats, but he really seems to strike a lot of people as being, I guess what Representative Nixon might not call him, but in general, like these corporate Democrat type of characters. And I have to wonder, Representative Nixon, are you insinuating that maybe these, some of these eight Democrats were not necessarily acting in the best interest of their constituents, but rather on behalf of some special interest insurance companies, Something with this vote? What are you insinuating there?

[Representative Angie Nixon]

You know, I would say that a lot of folks right now are just caving to being bullied, particularly by Donald Trump and those Republicans in D.C. right now. And a lot of our constituents, like, what do we get in return? Right. The Republicans have never acted in good faith, especially recently. Right. And so now what do we have to show folks?

[Billy Corben]

Going a promise to vote maybe in December or. Right. Whatever the hell this nebulous, amorphous deal is.

[Representative Angie Nixon]

Exactly. And so they have not acted in good faith. And at the end of the day, a lot of these people are really working to destroy our communities. And so working class people are saying that, right? Like folks who are negatively impacted, the people who had the hundreds of thousands of people who were without pay for over a month, they're pissed, right? Some of them may have gone into the foreclosure process or possibly faced eviction, definitely had issues paying for childcare, which is super expensive. And so now they have nothing in return. And so people are pissed. And again, it is definitely time for us to potentially look at new leadership to come in that's really going to be representative of People and what we care about and the needs that we have and not just those corporations.

[Billy Corben]

Last question before you go. I know you don't have, I think, any kind of runoffs coming up in December in Jacksonville, but we have them down here in the city of Miami. I know they have them in Orlando. And these are nonpartisan elections. But as we've talked about on this show many times, the political parties get very involved in these local, supposedly nonpartisan, nonpartisan elections. But you are traveling the state right now. I know you were in South Florida or you were in South Florida very recently. What is the response on the ground from people who really thought that the Democrats were fighting for something here and the sacrifice was to some end to some sort of. Of goal here? I mean, I think the Democrats should be concerned. Everybody's concerned about turnout in a runoff. You know that nobody shows up. Barely anybody shows up in November of 2025. I don't know. We didn't have three 30% turnout in the city of Miami. And we'll get half that, if not less than half of that in a December runoff. What I'm asking is that are Democrats now a little. There was a blue wave last week. Are Democrats a little less motivated, a little less excited about turning out because of this attitude that seems to be pervasive when shit like this goes down, which is that, well, what's the difference? We come out and vote and we get screwed irregardless.

[Representative Angie Nixon]

Yeah. So I definitely think that this may have an impact on turnout. However, it's going to be incumbent upon us elected leaders to let folks know that the Republicans are really to blame for the majority of the pain and suffering that we are facing right now. And so now we have a unique opportunity to really start meeting people where they are.

[Julie K. Brown]

Right?

[Representative Angie Nixon]

Like having these going and taking part in these mutual aid efforts and really letting folks know, right. Like the reason that they need this mutual aid in the first place is because Donald Trump and the Republicans in Congress just really, again, want to harm people and they want to basically diminish the working class and allow their friends and family to get richer.

[Julie K. Brown]

Right.

[Representative Angie Nixon]

Again, cruelty is the point here. And folks have to realize their power. And so I would hope, I am hoping and also going to definitely put in the work to make sure that people wake up and realize that they need to get their power back. And we have to work together. Right. Like, at the end of the day, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, we're all getting screwed by the folks that are in D.C. in power right now. And so and some of the folks that are in power here in the state. And so if we want to see a change, we gotta start electing people who care about us, who come from us, who are us.

[Julie K. Brown]

Right.

[Representative Angie Nixon]

And really want to see transformative change. And I think even though there was a little caving that happened a few days ago, I think that we can still fight back to ensure that everyone will have the opportunity to get their needs met if we elect the right people and we push for that.

[Billy Corben]

A quick poll before we go. How many of us think that we are going to get a $2,000 tariff div. A dent check. Quick show of hands. Is that a no? Is that no? How many.

[Roy]

That's a hell no.

[Billy Corben]

How many of us got that $5,000 doge rebate check earlier this year? Did anybody. Anybody get any. I get that. Okay.

[Representative Angie Nixon]

Yeah.

[Billy Corben]

All right. I was.

[Representative Angie Nixon]

How many corporations got kickback and no big tracks. I'm sure it's quite a big.

[Billy Corben]

Yes. Corporate welfare. Even during a shutdown, corporate welfare is alive and well.

[Representative Angie Nixon]

Flowing high, Billy. At an all time high.

[Roy]

And don't forget Argentina.

[Representative Angie Nixon]

Oh yeah. 20 million.

[Billy Corben]

40 billion. Yeah. Don't cry for me, Argentina.

[Representative Angie Nixon]

And the farmers here got screwed.

[Billy Corben]

Don't they always? Representative Angie Nixon of the great, great county of Duval. Great city of.

[Representative Angie Nixon]

You got Billy. You got to say it right, get it right.

[Billy Corben]

Hang on. This. I feel like. I feel like Howard Stern. W, A, N, B, C W. Hang on. I got. Give it to me again. I mean. Duvall duuuuval.

[Roy]

It's a work in progress.

[Representative Angie Nixon]

It's a work in progress.

[Roy]

It's a work in progress. It feels like everywhere you turn these days there's another fee. Buy a ticket, there's a fee. Pay a bill fee. Even your bank piles them on. That's why Chime is such a game changer. Check it [e-mail] Dan with Chime, Banking is done right when direct deposit is set up. There are no monthly fees, no maintenance fees, and you can even get paid up to two days early. And here's the part that really stands out with qualifying direct deposits. Chime gives you free overdraft coverage up to $200 on debit card purchases and withdrawals. To date, members have been spotted over $30 billion with a fee, plus access to 47,000 fee free ATMs, more than the top three national banks combined. Work on your financial goals through Chime today. Open an account in 2 [e-mail] dan that's chime.com dan. Chime feels like progress.

[Julie K. Brown]

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by the Bancor Bank NA or Stride Bank NA members, FDIC spot and eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. Timing depends on submission of payment file. Fees apply at out of network ATM bank ranking and number of ATMs according to US News and World Report 2023.

[Shopify Advertiser]

Chime checking account required the holidays really stress me out. I try to be a really good gift giver and when you get toward this time of year, you keep thinking, oh, I have enough time. And overall, really, the holidays are stressful, but especially if you run a business. I see what you guys go through. It's like one minute you're planning a sale, next minute your website's crashing, your inventory's off and someone's DMing you a discount code that expired in 2022. It's total chaos. That's why you need Shopify. It takes that holiday madness and turns it into Shopify powers millions of businesses. We're talking everyone from Mattel and Gymshark to the folks just getting started this Black Friday. You don't have to be a tech genius either. Shopify's got thousands of ready made templates, AI tools that write your product descriptions, even polish your photos, and built in marketing tools to cut through the holiday noise. And that purple shop pay button, that's the secret sauce this Black Friday. Join the thousands of new entrepreneurs hearing for the first time with Shopify. Sign up for your free trial [e-mail] batard that's shopify.com batard B A T A R D. Go to shopify.com batard and make this Black Friday one to remember.

[Billy Corben]

What does Zyn give you? Not just smoke free nicotine satisfaction, but real freedom. Freedom to do what you love and choose your rewards. With Zinn Rewards, you can redeem points for premium tech, outdoor gear and gift cards to your favorite retailers. Find your Zyn and keep finding rewards that fit your [e-mail] rewards warning. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

[Dan Le Batard]

When I think about the holidays, I think about the little moments with my dog Roma. The ones that make the season feel special. Put little elf ears on her.

[Billy Corben]

You know the deal.

[Dan Le Batard]

Take some selfies, post it for people that probably seen it too much. I love my dog. That's what I'm trying to get at. That's why I'm joining Chewy Claws, who's out here making pet's wishes come true from November 4th through December 24th, you can share your pet's wish at chewy.com chewyclaus it might come true, and it helps others, too. Every wish triggers a donation of five meals to shelters and rescues across the country. And if you share your pet's wish through the Chewy app, they'll double that donation. That's 10 meals for pets in need just for participating. I've been using Chewy for years legitimately. They've made my life easier for me and my dog Roma. Food, toys, meds, all of it shows up fast, no stress, and being part of something like Chewy claws, where a small thing like a wish can make a real impact. That's the kind of stuff I care about. Every pet deserves a wish come true. Send your pet's wish to chewy.com chewyclaws it might become a reality. Plus, your wish means Chewy will donate five meals to pets in need.

[Julie K. Brown]

A whistleblower is telling the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, the Jeffrey Epstein accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, is getting special treatment in prison and actively preparing a commutation application. One top prison official complained that he is, quote, sick of having to be Maxwell's B word.

[Jamie Raskin]

Ghislaine Maxwell is just in a completely different category than every other prisoner. She gets essentially room service behind bars. She can use the shower. She can use the gym whenever she wants to. She gets special treatment there. And unlike other prisoners who have to communicate with people outside of the prison through the very slow mail system, she's actually getting messages sent through the warden. Her presence in that camp facility itself is completely astonishing, given that they had never had a sex offender before and sex offenders were not allowed in that camp. Got in pretty much on an overnight basis after she met with Todd Blanche, who had been Donald Trump's personal criminal defense lawyer, now working for the DOJ as the number two person.

[Billy Corben]

Julie K. Brown is an investigative reporter for the Miami Herald, the author of Perversion of Justice, the Jeffrey Epstein story, the journalist responsible for exposing the sweetheart secret deal that became a scandal and looks like the Swee sweetheart deals are continuing. The difference is now they don't appear to be much of a secret. I would say the Miami of today is the America of tomorrow. And the only thing transparent in Miami is the corruption itself. And that seems to be happening here before our very eyes. You know, the story previously was Todd Blanch meets with Ghislaine Maxwell in prison. Next thing you know, she's transferred into this club fed where the quotes from her are that she is absolutely thrilled. She's loving prison. Now. It's crazy. But in the meantime, there's been a lot of very off people in Bureau of Prisons that have been sharing her emails and correspondence with journalists like Julie. And that seems to bring us to the latest news here, which is not only that she's telling people, Julie, how much she loves her new digs or new accommodations, if you will, which are unprecedented as I understand in the history of the Federal Bureau of Prisons for a prisoner of her crimes and caliber. But also now she is working on getting out entirely, getting off scot free from this 20 year sentence. What's the latest?

[Julie K. Brown]

Well, she clearly has made it known that she wants either some kind of clemency or she wants, you know, Trump to pardon her. I mean, it's pretty well noted that that is what she's aiming for. It seems that almost all her, her court options have been exhausted. The U.S. supreme Court last month denied hearing her appeal. So there isn't a whole lot of options in the, in the court, in the judicial courts. Of course, now she is trying some other means by appealing directly to Trump, apparently.

[Billy Corben]

So we've got a case that involves by some count over a thousand victims. You have a woman who is a convicted sex offender sentenced to two decades in federal prison. We heard from the ranking member in that clip of the Judiciary Committee, Jamie Raskin, who said that it is quote, in apparent flagrant violation of BOP policies, end quote. One, for example, that prohibits the placement of sex offenders in a minimum security facility such as this. What do we know about, about this deal, about the accommodations situation here?

[Julie K. Brown]

It seems to me that we're, that every time I've been following this pretty closely and as you know, there have been a lot of leaks over the past few months. There were the leak about the so called birthday card that, that Trump drew for Epstein. There have been some leaks of some emails with, involving Epstein that have appeared that have implicated various new people in especially banks and some of the financial institutions. And I feel like all these leaks, I mean we, this story has been out there now I wrote about it eight years ago. We weren't seeing these kinds of leaks. So somebody's leaking something and we know that Maxwell, for example, want something. So how do you persuade someone to get what you want but to dangle something out there? And I suspect, I can't say that, that this is true, but I suspect that one of the reasons why we're seeing all these leaks now is because Maxwell is in this lower security facility. She has access to computers. She has access to people that in ways that other inmates don't have access. And I think she is out there trying to, you know, orchestrate some kind of a pardon or a clemency.

[Billy Corben]

It's remarkable that one of the most famous and notorious cases of alleged sex trafficking in some cases allegedly of minors, a case that was sensational in and of itself, but became increasingly more sensationalized by really, you could argue more of the right wing kind of blogosphere and podcast universe. And certainly people who are now members of the Trump administration, Cash Patel, Pam Bondi, people really, really carrying the torch for releasing the Epstein files and getting real justice and exposing the true perpetrators who may have victimized over a thousand young women. And now here we are, and these are the folks that are getting special treatment. These are the folks that we are continuing to see a cover up of relevant evidence and information that could actually offer closure or some closure to the victims, to their families, to, to heal the country. And why is this happening? Why, why is it that the President always has kind words for Ghislaine Maxwell of all people? Because this is not a woman who is just an enabler of Jeffrey Epstein. I understand she was very much a perpetrator of these crimes.

[Julie K. Brown]

Right. And I like to remind people, because I often see people really not understanding how involved and how much of a mastermind in some ways she was of his scheme to abuse young girls. I mean, she literally would go out to spas and other places where young girls would congregate and she would literally give them her business card and say, I have a, you know, a job for you. You will never have to really work. You're beautiful. Well, I have a very wealthy man who can make you a model or who could get you through college. I mean, they promised these girls the moon. And in addition to that, she helped literally abuse them in. According to court testimony during our trial, there were, there were girls, young women now, but who, who were young girls when this happened, who testified about how she also particip in the sexual abuse.

[Billy Corben]

This so called sweetheart secret plea deal that Jeffrey Epstein struck. You had some really interesting news just a few weeks ago about this and things that we were learning from some of the documents that are being released and a possible future legal or business relationship that Jeffrey Epstein had with who was then one of the top Florida prosecutors on his case back in the day.

[Julie K. Brown]

This is actually, I mean, for journalists anyway. For me, it was actually, in a way, a funny story because I was on assignment in another state when The House Oversight Committee released thousands and thousands of pages on a Friday late afternoon, commonly known as a Friday night news dump, when no one is really paying attention. And so we were. I was with another reporter, Claire Healy, who was helping me, and we, we were just furiously trying to go through thousands of pages of documents. And I'm looking over her shoulder at one of the emails and, or one of the documents which includes a calendar listing that mentions that he's meeting with a guy by the name of Matt Menshell. And she says his name to me and I go, who? And she goes, matt Menschel. And I was just, just my jaw dropped because not a lot of people would necessarily know that name. But because I've covered this story for so long, I knew that he was one of the top, I mean, the criminal in charge of the criminal division under Alexander Acosta at the time, that part, at least part of this sweetheart deal was negotiated. And so my, I just couldn't believe that he would. Now, this is years later this, that, that Epstein is meeting with Matthew Menshell. But why would you be it. This is one of the most well known notorious sexual abuser of young girls in our history, and you are meeting with him when you were technically one of his prosecutors. I mean, why. How does this happen him. Why are you meeting with him? I don't care if it was three days afterward or whether it was 10 years afterward. I don't see any reason a man who was your prosecutor would ever have a dinner. I mean, one of the listings said, you know, meeting with Matt Menshell. No shellfish. Meaning, you know, is a dinner meeting. And he's allergic to shell.

[Billy Corben]

Well, let's keep it, let's keep it kosher, Julie. We got to keep this meal kosher. But, but let me ask, but let me ask you this. Did you discover other conflicts in terms of maybe there was some romantic relationships during the negotiation of this plea deal that perhaps should have been disclosed or conflicted anyone out of the case?

[Julie K. Brown]

Well, yes, because we knew that one of the things that Jeffrey Epstein did when he was trying to line up this sweetheart deal was that he found little ways to get to these prosecutors. He tried to disqualify Jeff Sloman, who was the deputy under casa, for example, because he had some kind of a burglary at his house, and somehow they were trying to make it that he had a conflict of interest because he testified against the burglar during the trial. I mean, he was trying to find every little way he could to get to These prosecutors. And one of the, the people he hired as one of his attorneys was a woman by the name of Lilian Sanchez. Now, I heard rumors from the very beginning that Lilliane and Matthew Menshell had a thing, a romantic thing. I, of course, I couldn't really prove it. There was no way to report it at the time. But when the, after my series ran, the DOJ did a big investigation. Buried in the, the footnote of that investigation was a notation that Lillian Sanchez had dated Matthew Mitchell. And it was like a tiny little footnote in the report. And so it had been confirmed that, that, you know, she had. And she took over that negotiation toward the end. So, you know, she was very much involved with negotiating this deal, at least at one point with Menchell. You know, the two of them were working this out together. So it's just, it's just incredible. I mean, when you look at how the deal was negotiated and the questions about that and the questions about the way that the whole thing was. He was given such. Epstein was given such kid glove treatment. And now look at what is happening with Ghislaine Maxwell and the treatment she is now getting in the criminal justice system. I mean, there are so many parallels and it is extremely disturbing.

[Billy Corben]

There was a moment, though, before these two alleged lovers got involved in the negotiations that there was a very real 60 count indictment for sex trafficking that had been proposed by then the lead line prosecutor on the case. Right. Like this was moving along in a, in an otherwise normal and just system until what?

[Julie K. Brown]

Until, well, Matthew Mitchell was the person that sort of put the kibosh on it. According to the lead prosecutor, she was interviewed by Justice Department investigators quite a few years ago and she's basically quoted in a, in a letter or an email that she wrote objecting to the fact that they offered Epstein this deal without even running it by her initially. So she was sort of told, you know, okay, little girl, go off in your office, we're let the boys handle. It was sort of what happened and this deal went through even though, and she had to sort of then sign on to it. I'm still mystified about how Acosta testified before the committee that the lead prosecutor, her name, by the way, is Anne Marie Vilafana. He said that she totally agreed with this deal and, and it's just hard for me to believe that she completely signed onto it because she was working so hard to put him into prison.

[Billy Corben]

Julie K. Brown, what is next? This is the gift that keeps on giving this story. As you said, you first started covering it almost a decade ago and it's still going with new breaks and new news and new information. Where do you think this takes us next? I'm guessing it's not the release of the Epstein files.

[Julie K. Brown]

I have to say, I think that the way that this is turned so political sort of obscures really what's important about this. And, and what is important are the way that the victims are still being treated as an afterthought and that are the fact that this is a crime. This isn't political. It shouldn't be political. It should be treated as a crime. There are real victims who were children when this happened. And it's just, it's sort of getting out of control in a way because people are treating this like a political story instead of a criminal case.

[Billy Corben]

And it's a tragedy for a lot.

[Julie K. Brown]

Of people and a tragedy. And I think, to be honest with you, I even think that the Oversight Committee and the Judiciary Committees don't know, don't understand this case. They really don't. If they did, they would have Marie Vilafana on the stand. If they really wanted to know what would happen, they wouldn't be doing what they're doing now, which is I, I really think a lot of grandstanding, a lot of, you know, appearing on television, trying to, you know, make, like I said, use this for political reasons instead of really getting to the truth.

[Billy Corben]

Julie K. Brown, author of Perversion of Justice, the Jeffrey Epstein Story and read [e-mail] thanks, Julie.

[Julie K. Brown]

Thank you.

[Billy Corben]

You know, I'm going to miss Joe Carollo when he's gone. We've got only like a month or so left of his political career. Part of me, yeah, I'm doing a little bit of a touchdown dance inside, a bit of a victory lap. I'm like Mike McDaniel cruising by a Buffalo Bills bar. You know, part of me, part of me is that. And then the other part of me is that like not going to have Joe Carollo to kick around anymore.

[Roy]

Yeah, that was some good content being provided by one Joe Corolla really does.

[Billy Corben]

It feels like the end of two eras, two generations in fact, with Joe Carollo and Francis Suarez. And this election, as we said last week, is really a referendum on the Miami Mafia and the dynastic political crime families that have plagued this community for so long. So the Suarez's are done, right? Xavier Suarez Cameron in. I don't even know what he. When he came in a distant, a distant 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th. I don't even know. And of course Francis Suarez's term limited out and referendum four that passed on the ballot with 79% of the vote. That is a lifetime term limit for Francis Suarez. He has served eight years as a city commissioner, eight years as city mayor. He can never run for city of Miami government ever again. I'm certain his plan was to like lie low and then come back like his dad did and and run for the same job.

[Julie K. Brown]

Job.

[Billy Corben]

He cannot do that anymore. I believe his dad can because I don't think, I don't know that he served a total of of eight years as mayor because he was removed from office, as you might recall, for voter fraud. Diaz La Portia, of course, came in with barely like 5ish percent of the vote. About the same as Xavier Suarez. So the Diaz La Portia, you know dynasty is done. But here's the thing. Frank Carollo is still on the ballot. That lawsuit is still pending this week. So the Koroyo dynasty is not done yet. There could still be another, another cake with a mug shot on it that I need to present inedible icing at the city commission meeting. So. So stay tuned. The Corollas, the Correos Corollo Cowboys may live to ride another day. Cocaines.

[Dan Le Batard]

Folks, the leaves are turning. The weather's getting a little chillier. That means the football games are more important. That means football time should be Miller Time. Game day hits different with a Miller Light in your hand. From jaw dropping touchdowns to fantasy heartbreaks. My fantasy season's over already. But you know what makes that better? Miller Time. It's the beer that's been there for every moment. 50 years of great taste, simple ingredients, and that iconic golden color you can spot from across the room. And here's the kicker. It's just 96 calories, 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. The original light beer since 1975 and still hitting different five decades later. So whatever your game day looks like, remember, Miller Time is always a good time. Miller Lite great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller Time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.