Lemon LIVE at 5 | The Epstein Scandal is Destroying Trump & MAGA - July 15th, 2025
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Why did Don Lemon open the show focused on the Epstein files and GOP reactions?
You know what that music means. That music means gather around the TV set. People are like, I'm sure it's going to be weird. The TV set, not long from now, people will say gather around the TV set is going to be like gathering around the radio, right, or the Victrola. Isn't that going to be weird? Like before there was TV, you would gather around. People used to gather around the radio. They'd gather around their old Victrola stereos. That's what it's going to be. Gather around the TV. Gather around your phones. Gather around your laptops. Gather around whatever devices that you have. That's what that music means. Hello, Maureen Marfell from San Francisco. I see you. So good evening to everyone. Welcome to Lemon Live at 5.
Gather around, fam. And boy, speaking of fam... My house is full of fam. I'm sure you hear the baby. Do you guys hear the baby in the background? My house is full of fam. So gather around. We have lots to talk about. That boomer reference is, yes. Christy Blackman says, what's going on, Don? What's up, y'all? What's up, y'all? How y'all doing? Seriously, what's going on? What's happening with you, fam, family? You guys okay? I've had this coffee for so long since this morning that it's turned into iced coffee. Hello, Arizona. Arizona. Hello, everybody. So, guys, this Epstein thing is crazy. And the Republicans wanted to go away so fast. But I think Democrats are catching on. I hope we're going to talk to Congressman Ro Khanna in just a little bit about this.
Ro Khanna introduced a bill today. We introduced one last night into committee, and then they voted against it except for one, South Carolina, who voted for – one Republican voted to let it go. Okay. But then he – today he introduced a bill for the full House. That was a committee last night. For the full House to vote on releasing the Epstein information. And what do y'all think happened? What do you think happened, Massachusetts, in the House? What do you think happened, Don Fath? Dan Fath? What do you think happened? What do you think happened, North Carolina? Verese? What do you think happened? The people who were out there screaming the loudest, some of them, it needs to be released. I don't understand why Donald Trump won't release it.
I don't know. I don't know. Guess what they did? TFK 762 in SoCal. Shout out to you too. They voted the shit down. Some of the very people who are out there saying, release the Kraken. I want the information. All of it should be released. This is what I'm told from my buddy over there, Brian Tyler Cohen, because he was covering it live and I was watching it. He said there were nine non-votes. Okay? But of the people who voted, Marjorie Taylor Greene. She's out there talking shit about Donald Trump. I can't believe it. And then Pam Bondi, and this is an outrage, and this is whatever. She voted not to release the information. Lauren Bulbert, not to release the information. And Mike Johnson, by the way, Mike Johnson allegedly, reportedly, had been pushing behind the scenes to have it released today.
Also voted against it. Do we have that Washington Post article that we can put up? That's according to the Washington Post. Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans break with Trump on Epstein. Democrats are also seizing on an issue championed by the president's base and forced to a nearly successful vote Tuesday to take up the issue on the House floor. Keep scrolling because I want to read through this, Andy. Okay. So this is about Mike Johnson. One of the leading Republicans on Capitol Hill broke with the Trump administration's decision not to release the files of deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as the controversy deepened over the handling of an issue that has caused unprecedented division among the GOP base.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, told right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson that he supported the release of the Epstein files days after Trump's Justice Department said the matter was effectively closed. Johnson is a close Trump ally and has never broken so publicly with the president on an issue.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
Why did Don Lemon open the show focused on the Epstein files and GOP reactions?
0:15–7:33
2
What happened in the House Rules Committee vote on Ro Khanna’s Epstein amendment?
7:33–15:12
3
Why did key Republicans who demanded 'release the files' vote against releasing Epstein documents?
15:12–25:39
4
What did Speaker Mike Johnson tell right‑wing media about the Epstein review and transparency?
25:39–44:10
5
How does Don Lemon explain the political risk Trump and MAGA face over the Epstein files?
44:10–1:02:56