BONUS POD: Media Tried Linking Trump to Epstein — a Phone Call in 2006 Just Blew That Up

Summary

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Podcast Summary:

Verdict with Ted Cruz
Episode: BONUS POD: Media Tried Linking Trump to Epstein — a Phone Call in 2006 Just Blew That Up
Date: February 10, 2026
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson (Episode primarily features Ben Ferguson)

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Episode Overview

This bonus episode analyzes newly unsealed court documents that detail former President Donald Trump's 2006 phone call to Palm Beach police about Jeffrey Epstein. Ben Ferguson explains how this revelation challenges common narratives that the media has attempted to link Trump to Epstein’s crimes. The episode also offers exclusive audio from Ghislaine Maxwell’s recent House Oversight Committee deposition, where she repeatedly pleaded the Fifth Amendment. The hosts dissect both stories, emphasizing issues of media bias, investigation into powerful individuals, and frustrations over the lack of accountability beyond Maxwell.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Unsealed Documents: Trump’s 2006 Call About Epstein (06:22)

• Breaking News: Newly unsealed documents reveal that then-businessman Donald Trump proactively called Palm Beach police in 2006 as Epstein’s crimes were surfacing.
• Trump warned authorities, calling Ghislaine Maxwell “evil” and directing police to focus on her.
  • “Everyone knew about Epstein and Maxwell is an evil woman,” Trump reportedly told the Palm Beach chief, per a 2019 FBI interview now part of Department of Justice records. (06:55)
• Trump reported to have:
  • Not only identified problematic behavior (“activities with teenage girls were well known in both New York and Palm Beach”)
  • Explicitly encouraged police to “stop him” and “focus on [Maxwell]”
  • Claimed he threw Epstein out of Mar-a-Lago and personally left a gathering when teenagers appeared
• Hosts’ Framing: These revelations debunk the mainstream media’s narrative that Trump may have been complicit or intimately connected to Epstein’s crimes:
  • “That stands in sharp contrast to what the media has been reporting on Donald Trump implying that there was something to hide.” (07:46)

Notable Quote:

“Trump told the police chief reportedly that he was around Epstein once when teenagers were present and Trump got the hell out of there.”
— Ben Ferguson (07:32)

2. The Media’s Narrative and Presidential Response (08:01)

• President Trump, questioned recently about the Epstein files, claimed the latest disclosures show he was the target of a “conspiracy” while suggesting America should move forward.
• Audio aired from a contentious exchange between Trump and CNN’s Kaitlan Collins:
  • Collins: “A lot of women who were survivors of Epstein are unhappy with those redactions... Do you think they should be more transparent?” (08:03)
  • Trump: “Now that nothing came out about me other than it was a conspiracy against me literally by Epstein and other people. But I think it’s time now for the country to maybe get onto something else.” (08:11–08:32)
  • Trump pivots to criticize the media, calls Collins “the worst reporter”, and attacks CNN’s integrity.

Notable Quote:

“You know why you’re not smiling? Because you know you’re not telling the truth and you’re. You’re a very dishonest organization and they should be ashamed of you.”
— Donald Trump to Kaitlan Collins (08:54)

3. Ghislaine Maxwell’s House Testimony: Pleading the Fifth (10:19–13:22)

• Headline: Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate, appears (virtually) for a GOP-led House Oversight Committee deposition.
• Questioning Highlights:
  • Asked if she was a close friend/confidante, if she assisted in trafficking, or if she instructed girls to provide sexual favors, Maxwell invokes her Fifth Amendment right on each count.
  • Committee requests clarity after every answer, confirming she’s invoking the Fifth “solely on the ground that you believe the answer will incriminate you” — she confirms each time.
  • Maxwell’s lawyer makes it official that she will invoke the Fifth on every question to protect her ongoing appeal (Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence).

Notable Quotes:

“I would like to answer your question, but on the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer... I therefore invoke my right to silence under the Fifth Amendment...”
— Ghislaine Maxwell (10:24, repeated throughout 10:24–13:22)

“Total silence. Now this is why so many people are upset. She pleads a fifth on her Epstein trafficking questions... She wouldn’t even answer that.”
— Ben Ferguson (13:28)

4. Public Frustration and Next Steps (13:28–14:14)

• Ferguson notes bipartisan anger over Maxwell’s refusal to answer, highlighting the lack of new accountability.
• Reiterates that Maxwell is serving time, but public and lawmakers alike are demanding more names and further prosecutions.
• The hosts argue the media has failed in its duty by focusing on (debunked) conspiracies about Trump rather than further investigation into others implicated by Epstein/Maxwell.

Notable Quote:

“Lawmakers on both sides are walking away from this empty handed, and the question now is what happens next? And when will others besides Maxwell go to jail for their crimes?”
— Ben Ferguson (13:40)

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Notable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Trump’s 2006 Call and Directness:
  “Maxwell is an evil woman.” (06:55)
• Trump says he left when teens appeared:
  “He was around Epstein once when teenagers were present and Trump got the hell out of there.” (07:32)
• Trump in the White House on Epstein:
  “Now that nothing came out about me other than it was a conspiracy against me...I think it’s time now for the country to maybe get onto something else.” (08:11–08:32)
• Maxwell’s Repeated Pleading of the Fifth:
  “I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence.” (Multiple times between 10:24 and 13:22)
• Committee frustration – summarizing the feeling:
  “Total silence. Now this is why so many people are upset.” (13:28)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• New Epstein Documents & Trump’s 2006 Call: 06:22–08:01
• Trump’s Oval Office comments and CNN exchange: 08:01–09:04
• Ghislaine Maxwell’s House deposition (audio): 10:19–13:22
• Analysis: Maxwell Pleading Fifth, Public Response: 13:28–14:14

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Tone and Style

The episode is direct, urgent, and critical of mainstream media’s handling of the Epstein scandal, frequently espousing a conservative perspective. Ben Ferguson adopts a tone of frustrated vindication over Trump’s exoneration, while expressing populist outrage at the slow wheels of justice for Maxwell’s co-conspirators.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode disrupts dominant media narratives by spotlighting evidence that Donald Trump took proactive steps to inform police about Epstein’s crimes and Maxwell’s involvement in 2006. Audio from Ghislaine Maxwell’s testimony underscores persistent obstacles to full accountability in the Epstein scandal, as she repeatedly invokes her right to remain silent. Hosts call on authorities and the public to demand further action and transparency, voicing the widespread desire for “more names” and real justice in the case.

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Transcript

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You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Good Tuesday morning. Nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And we've got two big stories for you. In breaking news, unsealed court documents detail how Donald Trump called the police about Jeffrey Epstein in 2006 where he described Maxwell as Epstein's evil operative. The details on that. And also on the same day that this news comes out, we also heard from Maxwell herself in her House oversight committee testimony. What did she say? We have the audio for you and we'll play it for you next. But first, want to tell you about our friends over Patriot mobile. Every so often, something happens that reminds us just how fragile our freedoms are. We can't afford to take our rights for granted. We must draw a line in the sand. And our friends at Patriot Mobile have been doing just that for more than 12 years. The truth is there is only one provider that boldly stands in the gap for Americans who believe freedom is worth fighting for. And that company is Patriot mobile. Not only are they leading the red economy, they're also outpacing the competition in technology. Patriot mobile is one of the only carriers offering premium access to all three major U S Networks, giving you nationwide coverage and service that you can count on day after day. They also offer unlimited data plans, mobile hotspots, international roaming, Internet backup, and so much more. And switching has never been easier. You can activate in minutes on your phone from your home or your office. And you keep your same number you've got now. Keep your same phone or upgrade to a new one. And this is where the magic happens. Every month, about 5% of your bill is given back to conservative causes at no extra cost to you. That stand up for our first and our second amendment rights, the rights of unborn children and our wounded warriors and those that have fought for our country. And wear a badge. So take a stand today. Go to patriotmobile.com Ben47 or call 972-patriot and if you use the promo code Ben47, you're gonna get a free month of service. That's patriotmobile.com Ben47 or 972-patriot and make the switch today. It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now. Story number one, Donald Trump called the police about Jeffrey Epstein. We now are learning in 2006, he also said that Maxwell was flat out evil. Donald Trump telling the Palm beach police chief, quote, everyone knew about Epstein and Maxwell is an evil woman. Now, in 2006, just as Jeffrey Epstein's criminal sex charge became public, Trump apparently called then Palm beach police chief to tell him that Epstein's activities with teenage girls were well known in both New York and Palm Beach. Thank goodness you're stopping him. Everyone has known he's been doing this. Trump told the police chief that According to a 2019 FBI interview with the police chief contained in the Justice Department's Epstein case files. Now, the interview, conducted in October of 19 and not previously reported, has shed new light on what Donald Trump knew about Epstein in the early stages of the investigation in Palm Beach, Florida. It also makes it clear that Donald Trump wanted to stop Epstein. The FBI agents that were sitting with the Palm beach police chief said that Trump revealed that Epstein's associate Maxwell was Epstein's operative and that Trump said she is evil and to focus on her. Clearly, Donald Trump was absolutely right. Trump told the police chief reportedly that he was around Epstein once when teenagers were present and Trump got the hell out of there. The report states Trump also told the police chief that he threw Epstein out of his Mar A Lago club. That stands in sharp contrast to what the media has been reporting on Donald Trump implying that there was something to hide. Which brings us back to the White House Oval Office. Just the other day when the President of the United States of America was asked about the Epstein files and the new documents that have been released and CNN's Kaitlin Collins decided to use the moment to try to attack Trump. Listen carefully.

[B]

A lot of women who were are.

[D]

Survivors of Epstein's are unhappy with those redactions that came out. Some of them entire witness views are totally blacked out.

[B]

Do you think that they should be more transparent?

[F]

They thought they released too much. You know, I heard that. And you tell me something else. I think it's really time for the country to get onto something else, really. You know, now that nothing came out about me other than it was a conspiracy against me literally by Epstein and other people. But I think it's time now for the country to maybe get onto something else.

[D]

But what would you say to people?

[F]

Health care, Mr. President, something that people care about. You know, what did you say?

[C]

Go ahead.

[B]

What would you say to the survivors who feel like they haven't gotten.

[F]

You are the worst reporter no one to see. CNN has no ratings because of people like you. You know, she's a young woman. I don't think I've ever seen you smile. I've known you for 10 years. I don't think I've ever seen a smile on you.

[B]

Well, I'm asking you about survivors.

[F]

You know why you're not smiling? Because you know you're not telling the truth and you're. You're a very dishonest organization and they should be ashamed of you.

[D]

The President of the United States of America making it very clear that he's not backing down. And it's obvious now that he was standing up to the corruption of Jeffrey Epstein and pointing the police chief in the direction of the woman that everyone is hoping to hear from and pointing him in the right direction of Maxwell, who clearly knew exactly what was going on and was clearly putting it all together for Jeffrey Epstein. This is another example of Donald Trump telling the truth and the media now wanting to make sure you don't know about this story at all. Now story number two. There is one woman that everybody wants to hear from and her name is Maxwell. You know her as the right hand madam of Jeffrey Epstein. She finally had her moment in front of the GOP House Oversight Committee. They have released the audio of that interaction and you are going to be able to hear Maxwell plead the Fifth. During her deposition, she was asked if she was a close friend of Epstein, if she helped him traffic girls and if she instructed girls provide sexual favors, among other questions. And you're going to hear exactly what she had to say. Take a listen.

[E]

Ms. Maxwell, were you a close friend and confidant of Jeffrey Epstein?

[A]

I would like to answer your question, but on the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer this question and any related questions. My habeas petition is pending in the Southern District of New York. I therefore invoke my right to silence under the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution.

[E]

Let the record reflect that Ms. Maxwell has invoked the Fifth Amendment against self incrimination. Ms. Maxwell, please be very clear. Are you declining to answer the question put to you solely on the ground that you believe the answer will incriminate you?

[A]

I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence.

[E]

Ms. Maxwell, did you at any time play any role in Jeffrey Epstein's activities involving the recruitment, grooming or trafficking of young women or girls?

[A]

I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence.

[E]

Let the record reflect that Ms. Maxwell has invoked the Fifth Amendment against self incrimination. Ms. Maxwell, please be very clear. Are you declining to answer the question put to you solely on the ground that you believe the answer will incriminate you?

[A]

I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence.

[E]

Ms. Maxwell, have you ever coerced, directed or otherwise instructed any young woman or girl to provide sexual favors to Mr. Epstein or any other individual?

[A]

I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence.

[E]

Let the record reflect that Ms. Maxwell has invoked the Fifth Amendment against self incrimination. Ms. Maxwell, please be very clear. Are you declining to answer the question put to you solely on the ground that you believe the answer will incriminate you?

[A]

I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence.

[E]

Ms. Maxwell, did you and Jeffrey Epstein attempt to surround yourselves with influential individuals to curry favor and shield yourselves from potential scrutiny?

[A]

I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence.

[E]

Let the record reflect that Ms. Maxwell has invoked to the Fifth Amendment against self incrimination. Ms. Maxwell, please be very clear. Are you declining to answer the question put to you solely on the ground that you believe the answer will incriminate you?

[A]

I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence.

[E]

Ms. Maxwell, can you please provide us with all the names of other additional co conspirators to the crimes perpetuated by you and Jeff Pref. State.

[A]

I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence.

[E]

Let the record reflect that Ms. Maxwell is invoked to the Fifth Amendment against self incrimination. Ms. Maxwell, please be very clear. Are you declining to answer the question put to you solely on the ground that you believe the answer will incriminate you?

[A]

I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence.

[E]

Ms. Maxwell, is it your intention to answer every question put to you by the committee today with the assertion of your fifth Amendment right against self incrimination?

[A]

I invoke my fifth Amendment right to silence.

[C]

The answer to that is yes also. So just as her lawyer, I'll tell you yes, that's her intention.

[D]

Total silence. Now this is why so many people are upset. She pleads a fifth on her Epstein trafficking questions. And yes, there are people that are very angry because according to reports, Maxwell was deposed virtually by the House Oversight Committee. They asked her straight up, was she a close friend of Jeffrey Epstein? We all know the answer to that. She wouldn't even answer that. Did she help traffic girls? We all know the answer that from the evidence she wouldn't answer that question. Did she tell those girls to provide sexual favors? We know from the evidence and the victim statements she wouldn't answer that question. Now she's already serving 20 years for exactly this stuff, but her lawyer says she's protecting her appeal. Lawmakers on both sides are walking away from this empty handed and the question now is what happens next? And when will others besides Maxwell go to jail for their crimes? That is what so many Americans are asking. The President of the United States of America is also absolutely right. What the media has done is not investigate this, but try to use a conspiracy to attack Donald Trump. And now we know exactly what he was doing, going to the authorities and telling them to look at Maxwell. The same woman that will answer none of these questions. Thank you for listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now and for more in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast and we will see you back here tomorrow.

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