In short
```markdown The MeidasTouch Podcast Episode Summary
Episode Title
GOP Goes into Hiding as Epstein Co-Conspirator Deposed
Hosts
- Ben Meiselas
- Brett Meiselas
- Jordy Meiselas
Episode Description
In this episode, Ben Meiselas reports on the Republican Party's absence during the deposition of Les Wexner, a key associate of Jeffrey Epstein, which was reportedly ordered by Donald Trump and MAGA Mike Johnson. The discussion highlights the implications of this absence and the serious allegations surrounding Wexner's financial ties to Epstein.
---
Key Highlights
Introduction
- The Meiselas brothers introduce the topic of the episode, focusing on the deposition of Les Wexner, a significant figure in connection to Jeffrey Epstein.
Main Discussion Points
Absence of Republicans
- Key Point: No Republican Congress members attended Wexner's deposition, which raises concerns about bipartisan oversight regarding Epstein's sex trafficking activities.
- Quote from Ben: The absence signifies complete abandonment of the commitment to investigation and oversight.
Les Wexner's Testimony
- Key Points:
- Wexner admitted to giving approximately $1 billion to Epstein, attempting to frame it as being duped.
- He acknowledged being present at events where Epstein and Trump were also present but claimed memory lapses on crucial details related to the trafficking allegations.
Democratic Response
- Congressman Min's Remarks:
- Expressed frustration over the absence of Republican members, emphasizing that sex trafficking should be a bipartisan concern.
- Congressman’s Assertion:
- Stated that without Wexner’s financial support, Epstein's operations would not have been possible. The lack of accountability is seen as a major failure.
Trump’s Press Conference
- While the deposition was happening, Donald Trump held a separate press conference, making controversial statements:
- Claimed he would "force himself" upon blue states and cities if necessary.
- Shifted attention to topics like crime in cities while avoiding questions about Epstein.
Impact of Wexner's Testimony
- Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett: Highlighted Wexner's close ties to Epstein, raising alarms about a broader cover-up that extends to the highest levels of government and influential individuals.
- Discussion around potential ties between Wexner and other trafficking scandals, including financial transactions linked to Ohio State University.
Media and Public Discourse
- Commentary on how Trump's statements during the press conference detract from crucial issues surrounding Epstein and the ongoing investigation.
- Reference to the wider implications of ignoring such a significant investigation.
---
Key Takeaways
- Bipartisan Responsibility: The episode emphasizes that addressing sex trafficking and the Epstein case should not be a partisan issue. Both parties must be held accountable for oversight.
- Connection to Power: Wexner's financial support to Epstein is painted as a critical factor in enabling Epstein's crimes, showcasing the intersection of wealth, power, and criminality.
- Media Distractors: Trump's various statements are viewed as distractions from pressing issues like the Epstein investigation. The split screen between Trump’s press conference and the deposition serves to illustrate this disconnect.
- Call to Action: The episode ends with a call for continued public awareness and pressure for accountability in the Epstein case.
---
Additional Notes
- The episode contains promotional segments, including a mention of Tovala, a meal delivery service.
- Encouragement to subscribe to the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts for more political commentary and updates.
---
Resources
- [MeidasTouch Podcast](https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast)
- [Tovala Offer](https://Tovala.com/meidas)
---
*Remember to stay informed and engaged with political matters that shape our society.* ```
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VORepublicans Abandon Oversight on Epstein
1:00 to 3:45
Discuss the deposition of Les Wexner and the absence of Republican members.
“Ever notice how ads always pop up at the worst moments?”
Min on Bipartisan Cooperation
3:46 to 4:47
Congress member Min's frustration over the lack of Republican participation.
“and FBI documents list Wexner as an Epstein co-conspirator.”
Wexner’s Financial Ties to Epstein
4:48 to 6:10
Examine Wexner's significant financial involvement with Epstein.
“Committee for the Democrats had to say following this deposition.”
Trump's Press Conference Timing
6:11 to 8:06
Analyze the timing of Trump's press conference during the Wexner deposition.
“Wexner is trying to downplay how close Jeffrey Epstein and Mr.”
Testimonies on Abuse and Trafficking
8:07 to 10:57
Hear testimonies about the abuse linked to powerful figures including Trump.
“And I will tell you one thing that was remembered for sure was when asked about Donald Trump, Donald Trump and Epstein and whether or not they had been in the same room and what that looked like.”
Trump's Press Conference and Epstein Questions
14:57 to 15:33
Discussion on Trump’s responses during a press conference about tariff rebate checks and Epstein.
“We also heard from Caroline Levitt and she was being asked questions.”
Trump's Claims and Media Responses
15:33 to 16:30
Analysis of Trump's claims regarding friends and accusations of racism during a press conference.
“Can you tell me, is there an update regarding the tariff free rate checks that the White House has promised?”
Trump's Foreign Policy and Military Actions
16:30 to 18:45
A breakdown of Trump's comments on foreign policy issues, including Taiwan and Iran.
“Then Donald Trump attacks former President Biden because Trump is demented and says, our former president's an idiot.”
Diplomacy vs. Military Action with Iran
18:45 to 22:02
Discussion on Trump's approach to Iran and the current military posture of the U.S.
“and relaying this administration's policies to all of you and to the rest of the world.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00My dad taught me a lot, including how easy it is to forget to cancel things. So I downloaded Experian, my BFF, big financial friend. Experian could help me cancel my unused subscriptions and lower my bills, saving me hundreds a year. Get started with the Experian app today. Your big financial friends here to help you save smarter. Results will vary. Not all bills or subscriptions eligible. Savings not guaranteed. $631 a year. Average savings with one plus negotiations and one plus cancellations. Paid membership with connected payment account required. See Experian.com for details. Experian. I'm R.J.
0:31Decker, a private investigator uncovering the sunshine state's darkest secrets. Tuesdays, it's the premiere of ABC's hottest new crime show. R.J. freaking Decker as I live and breathe. He's a private eye. It's not a standard murder. It's someone bigger. And a public mess. Trying to get someone back to prison today? You go to prison one time and suddenly it's all the jokes. R.J. Decker, series premiere, Tuesdays on ABC and stream on Hulu. Ever notice how ads always pop up at the worst moments? When the killer's identity is about to be revealed. During that perfect meditation flow. On Amazon Music, we believe in keeping you in the moment.
1:16That's why we've got millions of ad-free podcast episodes, so you can stay completely immersed in every story, every reveal, every breath. Download the Amazon Music app and start listening to your favorite podcasts ad-free, included with Prime.
1:55Ben Meiselas:loss by quieting food noise. Learn more at joinmochi.com. Mochi members have access to licensed physicians and nutritionists. Results may vary. Not a single Republican showed up to the House of Representative deposition today of Les Wexner in Ohio. He was the main benefactor, the main money supplier of Jeffrey Epstein. The House Oversight Committee conducted this deposition of Wexner today in Ohio. Not a single Republican Congress member showed up. They have completely abandoned even the pretext of conducting further oversight and investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring. They were ordered by Donald Trump and MAGA Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House.
2:43Ben Meiselas:Do not show up. Do not be there at all. Don't even lend your presence to this deposition. Now, a lot of bombshells at this deposition. Les Wexner, who's now 88 years old, admitted essentially that he had given Jeffrey Epstein about a billion dollars over the course of his lifetime. He tried to frame it as he was duped by Epstein, and Epstein was a con artist. But then Wexner admitted in his deposition that he believed he was in rooms with Donald Trump and Epstein at potentially beauty pageants and Victoria's Secret shows that he was at the island. And then when it came to critical details about girls and what was going down at the island, what was happening in these meetings with Epstein and Trump and others, he just conveniently did not recall.
3:33Ben Meiselas:As Joe Khalil explains, Les Wexner said under oath that neither the FBI nor the DOJ even ever sought to question him regarding Epstein, per the Democrats who sat in. So no questions by the DOJ when several Epstein victims publicly have alleged Wexner's involvement and FBI documents list Wexner as an Epstein co-conspirator. Folks, the cover-up gets worse. Let me show you what Democratic Congress member Min said when he announced after the deposition that not one Republican Congress member showed up for this deposition of Les Wexner today. Let's play this clip. It is very frustrating the fact that there are no Republicans here today.
4:18I wish there were Republicans because sex trafficking should not be a D versus R issue. It should be a bipartisan issue. Everybody should be invested in finding the truth right now. And the fact that we've had so little cooperation from the Republicans on the House Oversight Committee, that the DOJ has actively tried to obstruct this investigation. That is shameful, and it will go down as a permanent mark on the records of people like Pam Bondi and Donald Trump.
4:44Ben Meiselas:Next, here's what Democratic Congress member and the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee for the Democrats had to say following this deposition. Here's what he wrote. Today's deposition made one thing clear. There would be no Epstein, no island, no planes, no money to traffic girls without the financial assistance of Les Wexner. We are committed to ending this White House cover-up, which protects criminals and billionaire benefactors. A billion dollars from Wexner essentially to Epstein. And apparently the MAGA Republicans don't care about this. They don't care about the victims. They don't care about the survivors.
5:20Ben Meiselas:Here play this clip. It's about a billion dollars that was either transferred, provided in stocks, or given directly to Mr. Epstein by Wexner. We should be very clear that the two were very close per reporting. They spent a lot of time together. Mr. Wexner admitted that he traveled to both Epstein's island as well as his other properties. Mr. Wexner also admitted that Jeffrey Epstein had access to a lot of Mr. Wexner's wealth. And when asked even simple questions, even as it relates to Mr. Epstein being the co-president of the foundation that established the area that we're in today, Mr. Wexner had little to say.
6:11In fact, it's clear that Mr. Wexner is trying to downplay how close Jeffrey Epstein and Mr. Wexner actually were. And we should be very clear that there would be no Epstein Island. There would be no Epstein plane. There would be no money to traffic women and girls. Mr. Epstein would not be the wealthy man he was without the support of Les Wexner. I think it's very important for us to note at this moment.
6:43Ben Meiselas:Now, while that was taking place, what was Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans doing? Well, Donald Trump held a press conference literally at the same time. The split screen is so revealing. And Donald Trump said, and this is a quote, that he's going to force himself upon blue states and blue cities. He goes, I will force myself upon you, whether you like it or not. If I think that your state, a city is too dangerous, I will force myself upon you is what he said. Here play this clip. Thousands and thousands of lives in many cities. And frankly, if these radical left lunatic Democrats would come and say, please help us, please would stop crimes all over the place.
7:25And we're doing it in a lot of a lot of cities. Sometimes we have to force ourselves upon them because they're so bad. And I don't even think they realize what's happening to their cities.
7:34Ben Meiselas:And now going back to Ohio, where this deposition of Wexner took place, Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett had the following to say. Is that there were always young girls seemingly looking for an opportunity to model. And there were always rich and powerful people on the other side, dangling a carrot, saying, I will give you the life that you're seeking. Yet ultimately, the stories are the same. They're stories of abuse. They're stories of trafficking at the highest level. And I will tell you one thing that was remembered for sure was when asked about Donald Trump, Donald Trump and Epstein and whether or not they had been in the same room and what that looked like.
8:22He didn't quite remember, but he imagined that, yes, that possibly happened because he did remember that Donald Trump also would like to show up to the Victoria's Secret runway shows. Now, that was a little odd to him, he said, because Donald Trump was not engaged in fashion whatsoever.
8:41Ben Meiselas:Now, again, using our split screen right here, here's what Donald Trump was saying at his press conference. I love Nicki Minaj. Her skin is so beautiful. I asked her, are your nails real? Do you see what's happening? While Trump and MAGA were not at Les Wexner, he's out there talking about forcing himself onto people and how beautiful Nicki Minaj's skin is. How utterly disgusting. Here, play this clip. I love Nicki Minaj. She was here a couple of weeks ago. She's so beautiful. Her skin's so beautiful. I said, Nicki is so her nails, her nails are like that long. I said, I said, Nikki, are they real?
9:21She said, she didn't want to get into that.
9:25Ben Meiselas:Now again, split screen. Here's what Democratic Congresswoman Yasmin Ansari was saying after the deposition. She actually showed up to do this deposition. Here play this clip. Over the course of the last year, the American public has been witnessing what I can only call the most egregious cover-up in American history. And today was a critical part of our investigation to try to end this cover-up once and for all. We have met with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and the rich and powerful people that helped to perpetuate these crimes. And we have heard over and over from these victims the name of Les Wexner and the importance of following the money.
10:08Because the story of Jeffrey Epstein is one that can almost, you know, almost is the plot of a movie that is turned into a nightmare. And the real reason Jeffrey Epstein was able to get away with raping and abusing children, young women, boys, young men for so many years was because of the vast amounts of money that he was able to acquire. And that largely came from Les Wexner here in Ohio. So we're here to ask Les Wexner the critical questions. And it's been very interesting to see the types of responses that he's giving and his demeanor throughout the interview. He claims to want to provide information and to be helpful in the investigation, but then quickly follows up by saying that he does not recall details around a relationship with somebody that he had for decades.
11:04Les Wexner handed his power of attorney to Jeffrey Epstein. He allowed Jeffrey Epstein to live in his homes, to have hundreds of millions of his dollars, to use his yachts and his planes. This was obviously a very, very close relationship. And so far, what we have seen is a denial of that relationship. Another important theme that has come up today is that Les Wexner is actually tied to other sex traffic, sex trafficking and child abuse scandals here in Ohio, around the country. There are reports of payments that were made to a gynecologist at Ohio State University. And that money went through Jeffrey Epstein, but came from Les Wexner.
11:51And he has been asked about this with no real response, no recollection. And again, as my colleagues have said, I don't think it is feasible or understandable or conceivable that any individual would not have an understanding of millions, if not hundreds of millions of dollars of their own money and can't answer to those questions. So it is clear that this cover up is vast. It goes as high as the White House and the Department of Justice that still has not released the majority of the Epstein files, still has illegally redacted information, still has not begun any indictments or prosecutions for the very credible allegations that are in the files that we already have seen, all the way to people at universities and companies and vast networks of elite individuals across this country.
12:43And what I can tell you very clearly is that oversight Democrats on this committee will not back down until we get every detail, until every person who enabled and perpetrated these crimes is held accountable. All right, quick confession. Before Tavala entered my life, I often had a moment of panic when I had to figure out what I was doing for dinner after a long day. I'm talking about that moment at like 7.15 where you realize you forgot to defrost anything. So now you're panic ordering$47 takeout or eating cereal like a college freshman. With our next sponsor, you can finally avoid the daily what's-for-dinner spiral once and for all.
13:20This podcast is sponsored by Tavala. Tavala is a smart meal delivery service, fresh meals, and a smart oven that does the cooking for you. Midas Touch listeners can get a Tavala smart oven for just$49, plus free shipping when you order meals six-plus times. Just go to tavala.com slash Midas and use my code Midas. That's M-E-I-D-A-S. Tavala makes it so easy. You just scan the meal's QR code, pop it in the oven, and it cooks everything perfectly. Steams, bakes, broils automatically. No guesswork needed. The other night, I made herb-roasted chicken with creamy pumpkin risotto in my Tavala, and it was incredible.
13:57Like, it actually tasted homemade without me lifting a finger. Tavala feels like cooking in the future, except it's right now. Their meals are chef-crafted with real, fresh ingredients and honestly save me at least 45 minutes a night. It removes that mental load of figuring out dinner. And it's not just for their meals. I've used it for frozen stuff too. Scan-Ego waffles, done. Cinnamon rolls, perfect. With Tovala, you can finally dinner better and remove dinner from your to-do list. For a limited time, because you are a Midas Touch listener, you can get a Tovala Smart Oven for just$49 plus free shipping when you order meals six plus times.
14:32Just go to tovala.com slash Midas and use my code Midas. That's a$49 Tovala smart oven when you head to Tovala.com slash Midas and use promo code Midas. One last time, that's T-O-V-A-L-A dot com and make sure you use my promo code Midas, M-E-I-D-A-S. Remember, with Tovala, dinner is taken care of.
14:56Ben Meiselas:Poor Donald Trump gave his press conference. We also heard from Caroline Levitt and she was being asked questions. And she wanted to avoid any questions about Epstein. But when she was asked basic questions like, so when do the American people get those tariff rebate checks, Caroline? When do they get those? She goes, I don't have an update for you. Then shortly thereafter, Donald Trump posted$2 ,000 tariff rebate checks for everybody. He's a liar. He's a fraud. There's no tariff rebate checks. And this is more of him just trying to lead people on as he's done his entire career to destroy their lives and try to distract them from the Epstein files.
15:32Ben Meiselas:here play this clip. Sure. I'll go to both of you. Sure. Go ahead. And then Jake, you can go. Can you tell me, is there an update regarding the tariff free rate checks that the White House has promised? I don't have an update for you on timeline, but I know that it's something that the president and his economic team continue to very seriously discuss. Oh, and then Donald Trump also talking about his great friend, Mike Tyson, and the fact that Mike Tyson likes him shows he's not racist. So again, And while MAGA Republicans were not conducting basic oversight into the child sex trafficking ring of Epstein, they were hanging out with Donald as he says, Mike Tyson and I are our best buds.
16:12Ben Meiselas:OK, Donald, here play this clip. You talk about a piece of work, but he could fight, couldn't he? Mike Tyson, boy, I tell you, Mike has been loyal to me. Whenever they come out, they say Trump's a racist. You know, it's like a statement. Trump's a racist. Mike Tyson goes, he's not a racist. He's my friend. He's been there from the beginning. Good times and bad. Then Donald Trump attacks former President Biden because Trump is demented and says, our former president's an idiot. Here play this clip. Now we had an idiot as a president. We had a man that was not a president. Number one, he didn't win the election.
16:45He was not a president. Yeah, right. He was a real beauty, wasn't he? He allowed 25 million people into our country. Many of them should not have been here. And we've done now we have, by the way, we went from the worst border in history to the best, by far, the best border in history.
17:04Ben Meiselas:Then he goes on to say the DOJ needs to be prosecuting the fake news media, he says, because he doesn't like a free press and he's an authoritarian. Here play this clip. So we did something. So they said we couldn't do it in four years. We did it in one year. More Americans are working today than at any time in American history. So we have more Americans right now working that at any time. And, you know, when I say this stuff, I get the fake news back there. A lot of it. Thank you. I agree. Sometimes we have to be very careful because they actually go and it's not pretty, Leo. We have to get Leo and the DOJ involved.
17:45Ben Meiselas:But think of that, Leo. And then Caroline Levitt says it's important that we all recognize that anything Donald Donald Trump posts on his social media should be attributed as directly to Donald Trump. They're his messages. That's why he's so great. So two weeks ago, when he posted the photo of Obama's faces on apes and then said it wasn't him, that wasn't the official message. But now it is the official message. Anyway, here, play this clip. To reap the consequences of it. Sure. Thank you, Caroline. President Trump just said on True Social that it would be a big mistake for the UK to hand over control of Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
18:25But the State Department earlier this week has said the US does support that handover. So does this post now suggest that the US does not or that President Trump had changed his mind on this? The post should be taken as the policy of the Trump administration. It's coming straight from the horse's mouth. When you see it on Truth Social, you know it's directly from President Trump. That's the beauty of this president and his transparency and relaying this administration's policies to all of you and to the rest of the world.
18:51Ben Meiselas:more questions to caroline levitt that she refuses to answer like is donald trump going to withhold military aid to taiwan and donald trump refuses and they refuse to answer that question and because donald trump is being told by xi jinping i won't invite you in april to hang out with me in china if you give more aid to taiwan so i just want you to think about it why i'm showing this to you is because while they're covering up a child sex trafficking ring donald trump's here also destroying Americans foreign policy interests and you see it taking place right in front of us here. Play this clue.
19:23I have a few questions. One on the president on the president's schedule today, it says he has signing time. What is he signing today? Are we expecting executive orders or actions? That's the first question. And then second, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that a U.S. arms sale package for Taiwan is in limbo. Can you just confirm this reporting slash offer an additional comment? And how concerned is the administration that if the arms deal with Taiwan went through that this could disrupt the China-U.S. trade truce? Sure. Well, I haven't read the full Wall Street Journal report. I will just say with respect to an arms deal to Taiwan, I don't have any announcements or updates on that for you today.
19:59And to your first question about what the president will be signing, he will be signing an executive order, which you will all be hearing about later this afternoon. And you will see him in one hour at the Black History Month reception. We'll see you there. Thank you.
20:12Ben Meiselas:Now, Caroline Levitt is also asked, well, on Iran, can you share why Donald Trump would need to strike Iran's nuclear facilities if they're totally obliterated? And she's so dumb that she doesn't even realize the question. Like, well, last time we totally obliterated. So obviously we need to do more strikes. If it's totally obliterated, why would you need to do more strikes here? Play this clip. Thank you, Michael. Garrett. On Iran, I'm not asking you for like military secrets here. Can you share a little bit about the president's thinking on whether or not to strike Iran, who he's talking to, what information he's consuming, and why a strike might be necessary on a nuclear program he says was obliterated by the last U.S.
20:58strike? Well, there's many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran. against Iran. The president had a very successful operation as commander in chief with Operation Midnight Hammer, as you know, as you just said, totally obliterated Iran's nuclear facilities. The president has always been very clear, though, with respect to Iran or any country around the world, diplomacy is always his first option. And Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and with this administration. He's talking to many people, of course, his national security team first and foremost.
21:33And you know who the members of that team are. And this is something obviously the president takes seriously. He's always thinking about what's in the best interest of the United States of America, of our military, of the American people. And that's how he makes decisions with respect to military action of any kind. And on the flip side of that.
21:50Ben Meiselas:And as we have two aircraft carrier groups that are right now by Iran, and we are in a war posture, not like a limited strike, like a massive war posture unfolding. No explanation to the American people. This is what Pete Hegseth is doing right now. He's hanging out with Dr. Oz, and they are doing a Maha extravaganza right now. This, as the Pentagon prepares for potential military operations against Iran, as Idris Eregis Ali posts. There you have it, folks. Let me know what you think. Hit subscribe. Let's get to six millions. We're almost at 6 million subscribers. We're so close. You spent like 30 ,000 subscribers away.
22:27Ben Meiselas:Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million. Thanks, everybody. The truth is more important than ever. Check out our new Truth Over Lies collection at store.midastouch.com. All 100 % USA union made.
22:47Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same premium wireless for$15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities. So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to do at mintmobile.com slash switch. Upfront payment of$45 for three month plan equivalent to$15 per month required. Intro rate first three months only, then full price plan options available. Taxes and fees extra. Default terms at mintmobile.com.
From the publisher
MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Republicans abandoning the deposition of Epstein Co-Conspirator Les Wexner upon the orders of Donald Trump and MAGA Mike Johnson.
Tovala: For a limited time, because you are a MeidasTouch listener, you can get a Tovala smart oven for just $49, PLUS free shipping, when you order meals 6+ times. Just go to https://Tovala.com/meidas and use my code MEIDAS.
Visit https://meidasplus.com for more!
Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts:
MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast
Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af
MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial
The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast
Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan
The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show
Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats
Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54
On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman
Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
