Comedian and television host Jon Stewart has reacted with theatrical indignation after finding his name unexpectedly referenced within the millions of Jeffrey Epstein case documents released to the public last week.
Surprise Inclusion in Infamous Files
The newly unveiled files, which connect the convicted paedophile to numerous global figures including Prince Andrew, Bill Gates, and Donald Trump, contain a passing mention of the Daily Show presenter. Stewart's inclusion stems not from any direct association with Epstein, but rather from a 2015 email exchange between the disgraced financier and producer Barry Josephsen.
The correspondence outlines an idea for a stand-up comedy special about an unnamed comic referred to as "Woody." The email suggests: "Make a true biographical experience with his stand-up being the capper. Somebody like Jon Stewart could host/narrate the biographical part."
'Excuse Me? I Am Offended'
Addressing the revelation on his programme, Stewart declared with mock outrage: "I am in the files. This is actually true." He then quipped: "Excuse me? I am offended. Somebody like Jon Stewart, or Jon Stewart? My point is, do I have the offer, or is this an audition?"
The television star likened the recurring news cycle surrounding the Epstein document releases to "Groundhog Day," adding sarcastically: "This is the day when Donald Trump sees Epstein's shadow and we get six more weeks of not knowing who any of the co-conspirators are in this multinational sex trafficking case."
Critique of Power and Accountability
Stewart used the platform to launch a broader critique, hitting out at the "politically well-connected" individuals who he claims are "skirting any form of legal accountability" despite being named in the files.
"It seems pretty clear to me that there is a sanctuary city in this country," Stewart stated. "The real sanctuary city is where money and power protect you from the consequences of sex trafficking, or influence peddling, or taking half a billion dollars and giving away America's AI infrastructure."
Focus on Trump's Connections
The host revisited previous comments regarding Donald Trump's appearance in earlier Epstein email releases from November 2025. Many of those messages mentioned Trump, who was friends with Epstein decades ago. One email featured Epstein claiming the future US president "knew about the girls."
"This Epstein thing is no Democrat hoax," Stewart asserted, "and you know it's real because Trump's allies are working overtime to distract, or in the case of Fox News, not even a mention."
He criticised the network's coverage priorities when the emails emerged, noting they devoted airtime to topics like "the socialist takeover of Seattle, the Treasury phasing out the penny, the Northern Lights, the growing popularity of Christian music, and, as always, 'Kamala Harris goes crazy for carbs.'"
Questioning Presidential Authority
Stewart suggested the president appeared to be "flailing" when questioned about the emails, stating: "If he had nothing to hide, he could have declassified and released these files at any time, and how do I know this? He said so."
The host then presented a clip of Trump on Fox News from September 2022, in which the former president claimed: "If you're the president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying, 'It's declassified.'"
Stewart was careful to clarify that Trump's inclusion in the Epstein correspondence does not constitute evidence of guilt, but maintained his critique of the broader patterns of accountability evasion by powerful figures connected to the scandal.
