In short
The episode claims a resurfaced 2019 DOJ/FBI press conference about Jeffrey Epstein shows evidence of underage sex trafficking and that Trump allies are trying to block release of “Epstein files,” amid a government shutdown and House scheduling delays.
Guests
No guests are interviewed in the transcript. The episode references Sandy Bacon, an investigative photo/video journalist, and discusses statements by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Guest backgrounds
Sandy Bacon is described as a journalist/photojournalist/videojournalist who was present at major breaking news events. Howard Lutnick is described as Commerce Secretary and Epstein’s neighbor.
Key claims
Trump/MAGA Mike ordered Republicans to leave Washington to prevent a discharge petition from being signed; Trump is “hiding” Epstein files; DOJ/FBI evidence included nude photos of underage girls; Lutnick knew Epstein was “gross” and a blackmailer.
Notable examples
July 8, 2019 press conference describing nude photographs of underage girls seized under a search warrant; Lutnick recounting a coffee visit where he saw a massage table and said Epstein invited “the right kind of massage.”
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOTrump's Dark Past Resurfaces
1:30 to 1:48
Discussion on Trump's resurfacing issues related to the Epstein files.
“Koushi products are not available in all jurisdictions.”
Government Shutdown and Epstein Files
1:48 to 2:32
Analyzing the connection between Trump's actions and the Epstein files.
“or one of the major reasons is Donald Trump wants to further hide the Epstein files and prevent that discharge petition from being signed, which would call for a release of the Epstein files.”
Press Conference Insights
2:32 to 3:05
Insights from a 2019 press conference regarding Epstein's charges.
“but she was at this major press conference, and this video is surfacing and going mega viral right now.”
MAGA Mike's Controversial Plans
3:05 to 4:07
Discussion on MAGA Mike's actions and their implications in Congress.
“So what will be in the possession of the FBI today?”
Epstein's Charges Explained
4:07 to 6:02
Explaining the details of Epstein's sex trafficking charges from 2019.
“district adelita grijalva because she would sign the discharge petition now magamike's like well we're going to go in next week and then we'll deal with it.”
The Impact of Epstein's Indictment
6:02 to 7:30
Discussing the broader implications of Epstein's charges on society.
“They don't want the American people to know the truth about skyrocketing costs, cuts, chaos and corruption.”
Importance of Addressing Child Exploitation
7:30 to 14:00
Highlighting the need to combat child exploitation and support victims.
“But I want you to think we know Trump's name is in the files.”
FBI Announcement on Epstein Victims
14:00 to 16:12
Learn about the FBI's commitment to supporting victims of Jeffrey Epstein.
“We are parents, we are community members, we are human beings.”
Details on Epstein's Criminal Activities
16:12 to 17:40
Explore the details of Jeffrey Epstein's non-prosecution agreement and his recruitment methods for victims.
“Jeffrey Epstein entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the Southern District of Florida.”
Howard Lutnick's Eyewitness Account
17:40 to 21:48
Hear Howard Lutnick's chilling recount of his interactions with Epstein and the red flags he noticed.
“significant sex trafficking cases, and this is one of them.”
Transcript
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1:42Ben Meiselas:Donald Trump's dark past is surfacing at the worst possible time for him. And it is increasingly clear that the reason for this government shutdown, or one of the major reasons is Donald Trump wants to further hide the Epstein files and prevent that discharge petition from being signed, which would call for a release of the Epstein files. It's one of the main reasons that Donald Trump has ordered MAGA Mike to order all Republicans to just leave Washington, D.C. this whole next week and to go on a paid vacation. Well, Video has surfaced from Donald Trump's very own Department of Justice back from July 8th of 2019.
2:23Ben Meiselas:This was taken by an honorary Midas Mighty member. You know her well now if you've been watching this channel. Her name is Sandy Bacon. She's an incredible journalist, photojournalist, videojournalist who's always been where this critical news has taken place. but she was at this major press conference, and this video is surfacing and going mega viral right now. This is from July 8th of 2019, when Jeffrey Epstein was arrested and charged with sex trafficking of underage girls. I want you to watch what the Trump regime at the time, their top prosecutor in New York, said about the warrant that was executed and the evidence that they found.
3:05Ben Meiselas:So what will be in the possession of the FBI today? Let me play you this clip. I want to show you a longer portion of this press conference because I think it sheds light on Epstein's conduct. And that doesn't get enough. No one talks about that enough today that we just talk about it and I'll release the files. But let me show you this right here. Here, play this clip. Contemporaneous with the arrest of Epstein at Teterboro Airport. Agents executed a search warrant on his mansion in New York City and recovered and seized. And that was a search pursuant to a valid warrant agencies evidence, including nude photographs of what appeared to be underage girls.
3:52Ben Meiselas:okay more on that in just a moment i want to share with you now magamike johnson he was asked recently on cbs mornings so is the reason that you all are going on vacation again next week is so that you don't have to swear in the congresswoman elect from arizona 7th congressional district adelita grijalva because she would sign the discharge petition now magamike's like well we're going to go in next week and then we'll deal with it. But they keep indefinitely extending their vacations. Indeed, they're not going to work next week. They're likely won't go to work next week. I think it's Donald Trump and Maga Mike's plan to actually never come back.
4:33Ben Meiselas:I think that in their own view of this authoritarian manifestation that what's going on right now, they never even want the house to function again. That's what I think is happening. Listen to what Maggie Mike says here. Play this clip. Representative Grijalva, who won a special election last week in Arizona, she's yet to be sworn in. I know you're not in session, but you've sworn in Republicans out of session. Why not her? Does it have anything to do with Jeffrey Epstein? Well, the House is not on the floor doing business this week, but we will do it immediately early next week. As soon as everyone returns to town, we have to have everybody here.
5:10Ben Meiselas:And, you know, these, I always say, whatever your talent is, try to utilize that talent to fight for our democracy now. So this incredible artist or these collective of artists, they keep on moving back the statues of Epstein and Donald Trump, and they keep putting it in front of the Capitol building. I think this is absolutely brilliant. Here, play this clip.
5:47Ben Meiselas:And Democratic Senator from Massachusetts, or Democratic Senator from Massachusetts, Senator Markey, here's what he had to say about this. Let's play it. The Trump administration is lying about this shutdown. Trump Republicans and their billionaire buddies are hiding the jobs report. They're hiding the Epstein files. They don't want the American people to know the truth about skyrocketing costs, cuts, chaos and corruption. Release the jobs report, release the Epstein files and come to the negotiating table. Now, I want to show you a longer portion of that press conference. I want you to watch the whole thing, because as Donald Trump calls this a hoax right now, right?
6:34Ben Meiselas:him, Kash Patel, Pam Bondi, the MAGA Republicans, after saying they want to release the files. Now that we know Donald Trump's name is all over the files. I think we knew that before, but we have confirmation that it's all over the files. They ordered thousands of FBI agents to basically redact and remove Donald Trump's name. I want to show you what it is that Donald Trump potentially may be where his name may or may not be. We don't know because it's not released, but I do want to share with you what we expect to see in these files. And this video's resurfaced. This is the main press conference by Donald Trump's very own top federal prosecutors and FBI back on July of 2019.
7:23Ben Meiselas:Shortly thereafter, Jeffrey Epstein would purportedly die by suicide, which Nobody really believes that that's what took place. But I want you to think we know Trump's name is in the files. Trump's now calling it a hoax. But this is what his federal prosecutors were saying back on July 8th of 2019. Here play this clip. Today, we announce the unsealing of sex trafficking charges against Jeffrey Epstein. The charges allege that Epstein sexually abused young girls by enticing them to engage in sex acts for money. Epstein is charged in a two-count indictment. First, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, and second, the substantive crime of sex trafficking of underage girls.
8:10Beginning in at least 2002 and continuing until 2005, Epstein is alleged to have abused dozens of victims by causing them to engage in sex acts with him at his mansion in New York and at his estate in Palm Beach, Florida. The victims, all underage girls at the time of the alleged conduct, were given hundreds of dollars in cash after each encounter, either by Epstein or by one of Epstein's employees. The underage girls were initially recruited to provide Epstein with massages, and often did so nude or partially nude. these massages became increasingly sexual in nature and would typically include one or more sex acts as specified in the indictment.
8:58As alleged, Epstein also paid certain victims to recruit additional girls to be similarly abused. This allowed Epstein to create an ever-expanding web of new victims. This conduct, as alleged, went on for years and it involved dozens of young girls, some as young as 14 years old at the time that they were allegedly abused. As alleged, Epstein was well aware that many of his victims were minors. And not surprisingly, many of the underage girls that Epstein allegedly victimized were particularly vulnerable to exploitation. The alleged behavior shocks the conscience. And while the charged conduct is from a number of years ago, it is still profoundly important to the many alleged victims, now young women.
9:54They deserve their day in court, and we are proud to be standing up for them by bringing this indictment. Combating sex trafficking and exploitation of children is a priority for this office and for the Department of Justice as the sexual abuse of a minor can have devastating effects on victims, often lasting for years That is why my office will not rest until perpetrators of these types of crimes are brought to justice. Victims' voices including the many voices of Epstein's alleged victims must be heard. To that end, I want to say to anyone who is watching this or hearing about our prosecution, if you believe you are a victim of this man, Jeffrey Epstein, or you have evidence or information relating to the conduct alleged in the indictment unsealed today, we want to hear from you.
10:56please call 1-800-CALL-FBI. The charges unsealed today reflect the hard work not only of this office but by our law enforcement partners at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. To my left is Bill Sweeney, the assistant director in charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI, and I wish to thank him and his team for their dedication and professionalism in seeing this investigation through. I also want to thank the New York City Police Department, represented here today by Chief Jason Wilcox and Customs and Border Patrol for their assistance in this investigation. We will continue to devote significant resources to investigating these crimes and to protecting young people from sexual predators.
11:47And now I would like to invite Bill Sweeney up to the podium. Preserving the innocents and children is one of the most important responsibilities we carry as adults. Purposely failing children in any way is not an option. And yet there are some in society who have chosen to blatantly disregard this responsibility using whatever means they have at their disposal to lure children into a life which they should never have been exposed. As we allege today, Jeffrey Epstein is one of those people. At approximately 5.30 p.m. on Saturday evening, we arrested him at Teterboro Airport without incident. Epstein has been charged with one count each of sex trafficking and sex trafficking conspiracy.
12:30For at least a four-year period, covering the entirety of 2002 through 2005, he is alleged to have sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls at his homes in New York City and in Palm Beach, Florida. The girls were recruited in a variety of ways, usually by employees of Epstein and sometimes by fellow victims. The victims typically received hundreds of dollars in cash. The estimated dozens of victims were as young as 14 years old at time of recruitment. Children who provided Epstein massages while they were nude or partially nude. Children who were asked to engage in direct and indirect sex acts for money.
13:13Children who were enticed to do all these things at the hands of a man more than or nearly three times their age. Those who have been victimized by child sexual predators are frequently haunted by memories of these crimes well into their adulthood, often for the rest of their lives. They bear the burden of someone else's criminal behavior. Too often, adults in our society have turned a blind eye to this type of criminal behavior alleged here. We have seen the excuses. The ignorance of many who didn't even bother to understand that this behavior is a persistent scourge against our society's vulnerable youth and the willful blindness as to who the real villains are in this type of outrageous crime.
13:56The villains are the adult perpetrators, not the children. To the victims who may be listening or get word of today's charges, the team standing here before you represents FBI special agents, NYPD detectives, analysts, victim specialists, prosecutors who make it their mission to listen to every individual who's been exploited and to advocate for the most vulnerable among us. We are parents, we are community members, we are human beings. But as an FBI special agent and the head of this office, I have the privilege to represent and stand among many who make it our mission to put predators behind bars where they belong, regardless of the predator's power, wealth or perceived connections.
14:41Today I'm asking everyone to take a good look at this man. If you have been victimized in any way or if you are somebody who has any additional information about his alleged illegal behavior, we want to hear from you. Whatever age you are now, whatever age you were then, no matter where or when the incident or incidents took place, the number to call is 1-800-CALL-FBI. You will then be driven to the top of the list and that Jeffrey Epstein matter is number one on the major case list in the country when you call that 1-800-CALL-FBI number. Your bravery might just empower others to speak out about crimes committed against them.
15:21It's important to remember there never was, nor will there be, an excuse for this kind of behavior. We know that reliving these events can be brutal. We are here to work side by side with you as you go through this process. you should know that in the eyes of the FBI you come first. Many thanks as always to our partners from the Southern District. Our partnership with the NYPD on this case and so many others has been phenomenal. Thank you also to the professionals at CBP and to the Port Authority Police Department who helped us with the arrest on Saturday evening. Last but not least I want to extend my thanks to the FYNYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
16:01The public should know that to be on this task force you must volunteer. The work is agonizing but it is one of the most noble missions our agencies can engage in and we engage in it together. Thank you. Jeffrey Epstein entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the Southern District of Florida. That agreement only binds, by its terms, only binds the Southern District of Florida. The Southern District of New York is not bound by that agreement and is not a signatory to that agreement. I will say that I have confidence that the Public Corruption Unit can ably handle this investigation and prosecution as it has so many other matters.
16:38I will again urge you not to read into the unit assignment anything one way or another. I'm not going into any dealings with Maine Justice, nor am I going to go into any aspects of how our investigation originated. I will say that we were assisted from some excellent investigative journalism. Contemporaneous with the arrest of Epstein at Teterboro Airport, agents executed a search warrant on his mansion in New York City and recovered and seized, and that was a search pursuant to a valid warrant. Agents seized evidence, including nude photographs of what appear to be underage girls. It's extremely significant because of the number of years and the number of victims.
17:29There are dozens of victims, as alleged in the indictment, in New York and dozens in Florida, and it maintained itself over several years. So this is very significant. Our office has handled, this year in fact, many significant sex trafficking cases, and this is one of them. As alleged in the indictment, you know, these individuals, the underage girls were sometimes recruited by current victims, and the current victims were given cash payments if they could bring other underage girls to be similarly abused. And that's how he continued to expand the number of new victims that he had, And that's how it was able to maintain itself over several years.
18:15Ben Meiselas:And finally, the Trump regime is absolutely livid at Trump cabinet member Howard Lutnick, the Commerce Secretary, because Howard Lutnick gave that interview with Miranda Devine in the New York Post podcast, where he talked about how he was Jeffrey Epstein's neighbor. They lived literally, the building was attached to each other. Their townhouses were attached. He said that he knew Epstein was a creep right away. And he said that Epstein was the ultimate blackmailer. All of Epstein's friends, and he lists some names according to Lutnick. He goes, they've all been blackmailed by Epstein. That's how Epstein made his money.
18:53Ben Meiselas:And he said, anybody should have known that this guy was a creep right away. Lutnick said, I was a one and done when I saw him. I would never hang out with him. Anybody who was with this guy should know that he was bad business right away, that he was a bad guy. Well, Trump was best friends with this guy for the better part of two decades, like best friends in Palm Beach. So clearly, what do you think they're doing as best friends together? And play this clip of Lutnick. He was your neighbor for 10 years. How well did you know him? All right. So we are in number 11 and he lives in number nine.
19:31right so uh we renovate we buy our house and our house is pigeons and mice right okay that's it was derelict right so we build we rebuild our house we move in in 2005 okay jeffrey epstein is arrested in like 08 i think something right right so knock on the door his assistant on like a saturday says mr epstein uh your neighbor would like to invite you over for coffee so my wife and i go next door you know we walk the seven steps yes right to the next house for for coffee we share a wall right right so it's in new york city so he invites us in we have coffee in this and he says do you want a tour we said great interesting that really big house every room you went into he's got he's got well i'll tell you so his house is like super big really wide and uh so he gives me a tour in living room, big living room.
20:29And then across from it is double doors. I assume it's the dining room. And he opens the doors and there's a massage table in the middle of the room and candles all around and stuff. So I ask very insightful cutting questions. I say to him, massage table in the middle of your house? How often do you have a massage? And he says, every day. And then he gets weirdly close to me. And he says, and the right kind of massage. Now my wife is standing here. So she looks at me and I look at her. And we say, I'm sorry, we have to go. And we left. And in the six or eight steps it takes to get from his house to my house, my wife and I decided that I will never be in the room with that disgusting person ever again.
21:33So I was never in the room with him socially, for business, or even philanthropy. If that guy was
21:40Ben Meiselas:there, I wasn't going because he's gross. There you have it, folks. We'll keep you posted every step of the way. Hit subscribe. Let's get to 6 million. That press conference was something though, huh?
From the publisher
MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on how the 2019 press conference by the top New York federal prosecutors has resurfaced and it’s exposing Trump’s dark past during the shutdown.
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