A (0:01)

Boss, what's the most dreaded question that you can get when you tell people you host a podcast called the Lapsed Fan? Ugh. It's. What is it about? And why is that, do you think? Because to like pro wrestling is to lose the respect of others. Now, what if we told you there's a podcast that explains exactly why that is and why it's kind of deserved? For over a decade, we've taken fact finding missions through the thicket of half truths that is wrestling history. We watch old matches, call out carnies, laugh at our own jokes, and have so much fun doing it that some people actually can't handle it. Think wrestling is an escape from real life? Think again. Same power games, same office politics, same people lying to your face. Just with entrance music and absolutely no company health insurance under any circumstances. All I offer is opportunity, not benefits. As do we, Vince. The Lapsed Fan Podcast. Come for the wrestling history. Stay for the uncomfortable truth about why it used to be better and why you still care.

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What's up, everyone? And welcome to another episode of the Epstein Chronicles. A few weeks ago, we were talking about Howard Lutnick and the potential for him appearing before the Congressional committee. Well, it looks like that appearance is going to happen, and it looks like it's scheduled for May 6th. Now, of course, this is the committee that's chaired by calmer speakers, so I don't expect much to happen, but at least Howard Lutnick's going to be under oath and answering some questions about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and what he knew and when he knew it, because he obviously was lying to us about that relationship. And that was confirmed by the emails that came out and blew his narrative right out of the water. And like I always say to you guys, if they're lying about this, what else are they lying about? And I have my own personal experience with Howard Lutnick and not with him personally, but with him running a company that I work for. And I'll tell you, the experience wasn't very great. Promises of IPOs, all kinds of scandals, and eventually Canner Gaming got ran out of Las Vegas and they had to sell all their properties to William Hill. Now, of course, Lutnick had some insulation because he had Leomitis out here running the operation. So when everything went south, it was Leomitis who ended up holding the bag. But make no mistake, this was a Howard Lutnick operation through and through. And if Lutnick wasn't who he was, that Jersey Boy scandal would have ruined his whole entire career. But instead, he becomes the Commerce Secretary, huh? And let's not act like Howard Lutnick is some, you know, paragon of conservatism. Up until recently, the dude was a Democrat. So it's comical to watch conservatives try and defend Lutnick like he's some kind of, you know, hero or champion of the conservative movement, when in reality, he's anything but. This guy was hosting fundraisers for Hillary Clinton to beat Donald Trump in 2015-16. But sure, go ahead and defend Howard Lutnick. Today's article is from the Independent, and the headline, trump's Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expected to testify in House Epstein probe next Month. This article was authored by Joe Summerled. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will testify before the House oversight committee on May 6 regarding his past association with late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, according to reports. And aren't you embarrassed? Like, even being called on the carpet for your relationship with Epstein and the fact that you lied about it should be your career ender. But not for this administration, not for Howard Lutnick. And that's because this is all just a hoax, right? Remember, that's what they told us. It's all just a gigantic hoax. And since it's all just a big hoax, Howard Lutnick could have done nothing wrong. I mean, that's the logic they're using. But the question still remains, why did he lie? Because we all know if he had nothing to lie about, he wouldn't have been lying. He would have told the truth. Kentucky Republican James Comer, the panel's chairman, announced on March 3 that Ludnick had proactively agreed to appear voluntarily and applauded his demonstrated commitment to transparency, but did not, at that stage, offer a schedule. Oh, such a transparent guy. If you haven't been paying attention, James Comer is acting like a fullback here, protecting Trump as Trump runs up the middle. That's his job. His job is to keep blockers off of Trump as he continues to try to deftly navigate this situation by calling it a hoax and all kinds of other crazy nonsense. And it's been very effective. But the truth is, it wouldn't have been anywhere near as effective if James Comer wasn't running protection for Donald Trump with this committee. And that's why they were so upset with Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie about the discharge petition. Remember, sources close to the committee have now given the May date to CNN and a number of other media outlets. So my guess is that's probably going to be the date. No reason to be coy about that. But the real question is, is Lutnick going to give up any kind of information that's worthwhile, or is he going to play games again? And considering the performance of the rest of the members of Trump's cabinet, I'm not too confident that Howard Lutnick is going to get up there and, you know, do the right thing. And I find it hilarious that Comer's like, you know what? Howard Lutnick's a great guy. He's coming forward, he's going to do this and show us a commitment to transparency. Yeah. If that's the case, why was he lying to begin with? It's a voluntary, transcribed interview, a person familiar with the matter told cnbc. Lutnick has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, who died in a New York City jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial, but faced questions about his past relationship with the disgraced financier. And it's not just that. It's not just a relationship. It's lying about the relationship. And not just in, you know, a passing way. He lied to the American people. And if you're a representative in government and you're lying directly to the American people, you better believe they're going to have some questions. The secretary told Pod Force One presenter Miranda Devine in October that he had been a neighbor of Epstein in New York and and had once visited his brownstone in 2005, but was appalled when his host made a creepy comment about receiving the right kind of massages during a tour of the property. Yeah, I'm sure that that was what did it. Mr. Lutnick, he asked me if I like massages, and he gave me this weird look. And at that point, me and my wife decided we'd never come here again. Until they came there again. Till you went to his island. In the six to eight steps it takes to get from his house to my house, my wife and I decided that I will never be in a room with that disgusting person ever again, lutnick told Divine. Well, fast forward to the documents being released, and we know that Howard Lutnick was lying. And if you tell me you're a liar and you show me you're a liar, well. Well, I'm gonna believe you. And, folks, I certainly believe that Howard Lutnick is a liar. However, the release of the Epstein files by the Department of Justice in late December and January revealed that the men had remained in contact after all. Inclusions in the files is not an indication of any wrongdoing. Well, that's true. It's not. But why are you lying? Once you start making all these excuses that are provably false, you're gonna create a bigger problem for yourself. Just be honest from the beginning. Look, I knew this dude from X, Y and Z. This is why we associated. And I think that the contemporaneous records will back that up. But instead of that, all these people double down on their, oh, I have no idea who he is. Never met him, was only in a room with him one time. And then when that's proven to be false, they just pick up where they left off and give us new bullshit. And people suck it up. Ah, come on. Howard Lutnick. That's just a rumor. He wasn't friends with Epstein. Dude with his neighbor for how many years? Two rich dudes like that, but sure, they never associated. Lutnick subsequently told the Senate Appropriations Committee on February 10 that he and his family had lunch with the billionaire on Little St. James and his private Caribbean island. In December of 2012. Epstein was already a convicted sex offender. Everybody knew that he was a convicted sex offender, including Lutnick. And guess what? Good old Howie just didn't care, just like the rest of his buddies. And I'm gonna keep hammering that point home for all the people out there that are crying about reputations being destroyed. If you want a pristine reputation, then don't hang out with people like Jeffrey Epstein. Pretty simple. The occasion came more than four years after Epstein had pleaded guilty to soliciting an underage girl for prostitution. No such thing in Florida state court. An offense for which he served 13 months behind bars. Oh, yeah. Did he really? Or did he serve a couple hours per day? I think it was a couple hours per day. 13 months behind bars. No, not like a regular person wasn't locked up in, you know, general population in your local county. Certainly. Wasn't that Jeffrey Epstein, the man who committed some of the most heinous crimes and got one of the lightest slaps on the wrist in history? And still no explanation. Ludnick's admission caused GOP Representative Thomas Massie and anti Mace to criticize him, with the former urging him to resign and the later commenting, I wouldn't sit and have lunch with a convicted pedophile. Well, that's pretty common, right? I don't think most of us would. And I don't care if you're a family, lifelong friend, whatever it might be, if you're out here preying on people, children especially, the only kind of sandwich you can expect from me is. Is of the knuckle variety. If you think I'm sitting around breaking bread with somebody like Epstein, you got a another thing coming. I'd rather spend time in a Taliban prison than spend one minute with Jeffrey Epstein. Lnick's name was also included in a spoof Walk of Shame installation in Washington, D.C. last month, which laid out pavement stars for famous people embarrassed over their past ties. Epstein. The problem is they're not embarrassed enough. Especially Lutnick comes out with that stupid little laugh, that little giggle, acting like he doesn't have a care in the world. The committee has already heard from Bill and Hillary Clinton as part of the investigation into Epstein and his ties to wealthy power brokers, both of whom said they had done nothing wrong and had no knowledge of his crimes, as well as two former Epstein employees. Nobody knew anything. Come on. Epstein and his associates were above board and you're just a conspiracy theorist. It also issued a subpoena on March 17 to outgoing Attorney General Pam Bondi to sit for a deposition on April 14 to take questions on the DOJ's handling of the files, a commitment she's still expected to honor despite being fired by President Donald Trump last Thursday. Y', all, I have my doubts about that. Under normal circumstances, she probably would have to testify still. But remember who we're dealing with here, and nothing is normal. So as far as Bondi goes, I'll have to take a wait and see approach on that. But for Lutnick, he's definitely going to be deposed, and I think that it's going to be very interesting to see what he has to say. But I have my doubts about Comer, and I have no faith in him or his cronies that are in charge of this whole entire dance. So we'll see what happens. But like usual, I have my doubts. All the information that goes with this episode can be found in the description box.