A lively debate ensued on a CNN panel when liberal podcaster Adam Mockler suggested that the government’s handling of the Epstein files represented a cover-up surpassing the magnitude of Watergate. The discussion took place on CNN host’s Abby Phillip’s program and quickly escalated into a heated argument among the panelists.
Mockler accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of engineering a vast government cover-up to shield President Donald Trump from damaging information present in the files associated with the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. This allegation was met with immediate and strong opposition from Joe Borelli, Republican minority leader of the New York City Council, and a Trump supporter.
In the broadcast, Borelli insisted that Mockler confirm if there was any evidence tying Trump to trafficking. Upon being asked by Borelli if there was any proof of Trump committing crimes, Mockler confessed there was none. This discussion attracted more panelists, such as political consultant Tezlyn Figaro, who questioned Borelli about the incomplete release of documents. Borelli stated he would participate once the full file disclosure took place, ending the segment.
In November 2025, Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law, mandating the Department of Justice (DOJ) to disclose all Epstein-associated files by December 19, 2025. The act received overwhelming support in the House and the Senate before being signed by Trump on November 19, 2025. The House Oversight Committee Democrats were given approximately 95,000 photographs from the Epstein estate, with only 19 made public initially. A new set of Epstein files was released by the DOJ in mid-December, revealing Epstein’s ties with numerous influential figures.
The pictures feature Bill Clinton, Steve Bannon, Prince Andrew, Bill Gates, and Richard Branson, documenting Epstein’s connections to some of the world’s most powerful individuals. However, the DOJ and legal experts have stressed that appearing in photos with Epstein does not suggest criminal guilt or awareness of his offenses.
The DOJ confirmed a letter from Epstein to convicted sex offender Larry Nassar was counterfeit. They stated that the handwriting did not match Epstein’s and the letter was postmarked three days following Epstein’s death. The DOJ also noted that some documents contain unconfirmed FBI tips submitted before the 2020 election, dismissing such claims as “unfounded and false.”
More than two million documents of Epstein-related files are currently under review by the DOJ, with about 400 attorneys assigned to the task. As of early January 2026, the DOJ has released only 12,285 documents totaling approximately 125,575 pages, representing less than 1% of the total files in its possession.
In late December, at least 16 files temporarily disappeared from the DOJ’s public webpage for Epstein documents, including a photograph showing President Trump. The missing files, which were available on December 20 and gone by December 21, sparked transparency concerns among lawmakers and the public. The DOJ later restored the photo after determining no Epstein victims were depicted in it, explaining that the Southern District of New York had flagged the image for review out of an abundance of caution.
The review is expected to continue through at least late January 2026, exceeding the December 19 deadline set by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The extensive backlog indicates a larger volume of documents than previously anticipated.
On Wednesday, December 24, 2025, Trump threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of networks. The president also verbally attacked Stephen Colbert, calling him a major loser and a trainwreck.
The escalating tensions over the Epstein documents, media criticism, and the involvement of entertainment figures mirror wider disputes over transparency and presidential accountability.
The mid-December releases represent only a small portion of the approximately 95,000 photographs held by congressional investigators.
Trump’s ongoing conflicts with media organizations and late-night comedians, along with his threats to revoke broadcast licenses, have prompted concerns about First Amendment protections among advocates for press freedom.