Jon Stewart returned to his Monday night desk at The Daily Show, expressing frustration over the lack of consequences for powerful men named in the latest batch of Jeffrey Epstein files. The documents, released by the US Justice Department on Friday, failed to fully redact victims' names and photos while still protecting figures like Donald Trump, Stewart argued.
"There have been consequences for none of these dudes," Stewart said, listing Epstein associates who have faced no legal action despite allegations. "I gotta be honest, I'm just not sure anybody is going to be held accountable for any of this. Oh, except Prince Andrew," he added dismissively, mocking the minor penalty of being stripped of his title.
Stewart noted that Trump was mentioned thousands of times in the files but claimed redactions and slow releases were shielding him. "The guy they're running interference for seems very satisfied with these results," he said, concluding with a critique of a "two-tiered" legal system that protects the wealthy and powerful.
On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the host criticised the Justice Department's handling, pointing out that victims' names were left unredacted while victimizers' names were obscured. Kimmel summarised findings involving Trump, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Howard Lutnick, noting that Prince Andrew appeared "royally fucked." He also highlighted that Trump's personal attorney, Todd Blanche, is overseeing the release.
Stephen Colbert referenced a New York Times investigation finding 5,300 files referencing Trump and over 38,000 mentions of Epstein, calling the batch "3m pages of just terrible stuff." The hosts collectively expressed dismay at the lack of accountability for the rich and powerful named in the documents.
