On Wednesday night, comedian Shane Gillis made light of Donald Trump’s management of documents associated with disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while hosting the ESPYS 2025.
Gillis began by poking fun at Trump’s involvement in the events of January 6, 2021, which surrounded the Capitol attack. He quipped, “Donald Trump wants to stage a UFC fight on the White House lawn. When he last fought in DC, [former Vice President] Mike Pence almost didn’t make it.”
He went on to inform the audience that the joke wasn’t originally his own. “There was meant to be an Epstein joke here, but maybe that got taken out,” he said. “Perhaps it was never there at all. Anyway, let’s just move on as a country.”
The comedian’s comments touched on Trump’s assertion that he is focused on matters regarding Epstein. Epstein was arrested in July 2019 for allegedly running a sex trafficking operation involving minors, and his death in a New York City jail in August 2019 was ruled a suicide.
In response to inquiries about Epstein’s case, Trump remarked during a meeting with Bahrain’s crown prince on Wednesday, “Some silly Republicans get caught up in this, and they end up doing work for the Democrats. I call this the Epstein hoax. It’s a waste of time and energy. Instead of celebrating our accomplishments, they’re fixated on someone who had serious issues and reportedly died four years ago.”
Several Republican leaders and Trump supporters, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), have recently called for greater transparency about the Epstein-related files. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), a staunch Trump ally, is also advocating for special advisers to take on the administration’s lawsuit over the matter.
Recently, the Department of Justice and FBI released a joint statement clarifying that Epstein does not have a “client list,” a document some believe could be troubling in the future. Additionally, they reemphasized the conclusion of medical authorities that Epstein’s death was a suicide.
This memo seems to contradict previous comments made by General Pam Bondi in February, suggesting a client list was available for review. The Trump administration clarified that Bondi was referring to the complete case file.
The developments have reignited long-held conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s demise, frustrating members of the MAGA movement, who have alleged that various prominent Democrats and other notable figures were implicated in the circumstances of his death.
Epstein, who accepted a plea deal on prostitution charges back in 2008, was known to associate with high-profile individuals, including Trump, former President Clinton, and British Prince Andrew, as well as numerous celebrities. Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted of sex trafficking and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
