
4 big questions about Trump and Epstein
CNN
There are arguably more questions than ever about the Epstein case thanks in large part to the bizarre handling of it by the Trump administration.
In 2021, JD Vance accused the government of hiding a Jeffrey Epstein “client list” that the Trump-Vance administration now says doesn’t exist. “If you’re a journalist and you’re not asking questions about this case,” Vance said, “you should be ashamed of yourself.” Today, there are arguably more questions than ever – thanks in large part to the bizarre handling of it by the same administration Vance now serves in. Despite hyping the “Epstein files,” the Trump Justice Department now says Epstein indeed committed suicide, and there was no “client list.” That doesn’t mean there was some broad conspiracy involved. But the administration has done a great job seeding suspicion – particularly among its own base – that it’s now part of the purported cover-up. So let’s ask some of the kinds of questions that Vance argued were so important four years ago. Trump’s strategy for dealing with the backlash basically amounts to: Move along, everyone.

One year ago this week, Joe Biden was president. I was in Doha, Qatar, negotiating with Israel and Hamas to finalize a ceasefire and hostage release deal. The incoming Trump team worked closely with us, a rare display of nonpartisanship to free hostages and end a war. It feels like a decade ago. A lot can happen in a year, as 2025 has shown.












