Joe Rogan Recounts Encounter with Jeffrey Epstein

During a recent episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” podcast host Joe Rogan shared that he had confronted a former guest regarding an attempt to introduce him to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a 2017 email, Epstein reached out to theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss after Rogan made contact with him. Krauss, who appeared on the podcast that same year, indicated in his response that he obliged to Epstein’s request.

Reflecting on this, Rogan mentioned how he quickly decided he wanted nothing to do with Epstein after looking him up. “It’s in my file that I didn’t go because Jeffrey Epstein was trying to meet me… and I thought, ‘What?'” He continued, “Especially after I Googled him, there wasn’t even a chance I was going.” This was back in 2017 when a guest had suggested meeting Epstein, to which Rogan’s shocked response was simply, “What on earth are you talking about?”

On Tuesday, Cheryl Hines, Rogan’s guest for the episode, inquired about the reason behind the suggested meeting with Epstein.

“If I’m the kind of guy who gets sucked in by the rich and powerful, if I’m really interested in hanging out with them…” Rogan replied, possibly suggesting a sense of bewilderment at the thought.

Epstein had previously pleaded guilty to state prostitution charges, became a registered sex offender, and served a brief jail sentence as part of a non-prosecution agreement made in 2008.

On February 1, the Justice Department disclosed records showing Epstein’s communications with various figures, including former White House adviser Steve Bannon and Elon Musk, even after Epstein’s guilty plea.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick attempted to downplay his past interactions with Epstein during a hearing following the release of the files, despite evidence suggesting they had been in contact since 2018. He stated that he had limited encounters with Epstein, even though they were neighbors in New York City.

“I literally met him three times in 14 years,” Lutnick claimed, underscoring a sense of distancing from Epstein’s reputation. This followed his earlier assertions on “Pod Force One” that he had vowed never to be in the same room as Epstein after finding an alarming massage table in Epstein’s home.

Lutnick remarked, “It was six or eight steps from his house to mine, so my wife and I decided we were never going to room with that guy again. I was never in the room with him. That guy was there, but I didn’t go because he was disgusting.”