MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough Corners Raskin Over Epstein Files in Awkward On-Air Exchange

MSNBC host Joe Scarborough pressed Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) on-air this week about why congressional Democrats did not seek the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s files during the years they controlled the Department of Justice (DOJ) under former President Joe Biden. 

The exchange has sparked renewed attention to the timeline of investigations and transparency surrounding Epstein’s connections.

The questioning came during an appearance on “Morning Joe,” where Scarborough raised concerns over how Democrats have responded to recent public demands for information linked to the late financier. 

“You could’ve had them from ’21 to ’25 when Democrats controlled DOJ. Why? It was a crisis then, it’s a crisis now. Why didn’t Democrats call for it from ’21 to ’25?” he asked.

Raskin, who serves on the House Oversight Committee, responded with uncertainty. 

 “So, uh, the, I mean, you have to go back, uh, and look specifically at – particular prosecutorial decisions…uhhh…and, what was taking place in terms of the other cases…so, I don’t know,” he said. “We’ve tried to reconstruct that record…”

Raskin then turned the focus to President Donald Trump, saying, “Donald Trump is the one who has led the crusade to say that Epstein, who was his very close friend, and there’s all kinds of pictures of them…”

Scarborough, who has long been an outspoken critic of Trump, rarely directs pointed questions at Democrats, making the exchange especially noteworthy among conservatives.

The timing of Scarborough’s question coincides with recent online speculation about who may have been connected to Epstein. 

Last month, billionaire Elon Musk fueled the discussion by claiming that President Trump appeared on the so-called “Epstein list.” 

The claim was quickly denied by Epstein’s former lawyer, who stated that Trump had never been listed among Epstein’s clients or known associates in any formal legal document.

Despite the denial, the topic has gained traction among political commentators and Democratic activists who are urging the release of any remaining files related to Epstein’s network. 

These demands have largely been aimed at officials from the Trump era, even though many of the files remained under control of the DOJ during the Biden administration.

Democrats previously held both the White House and the DOJ, as well as control of both chambers of Congress for part of that period. 

Critics have noted that there was an opportunity to act on releasing Epstein records during that time, yet little action was taken.

Scarborough’s line of questioning appeared to highlight the gap between public demands for accountability and the timeline of governmental oversight. 

His inquiry also marked a rare moment of public scrutiny from a cable news host often seen as aligned with Democratic policy interests.

The Epstein case has remained politically sensitive since his death in federal custody in 2019. 

Multiple names have surfaced in connection to the financier’s activities, though no definitive public list has been authenticated. 

Various court records and legal proceedings related to Epstein have been unsealed in recent years, but full disclosure of all related documents remains incomplete.

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