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Palm Beach Today
By the People, for the People
Joe Rogan Accuses FBI of 'Gaslighting' Over Epstein Probe
Rogan's criticism of federal investigators' findings keeps pressure on the Trump administration over the Epstein case.
Published on Feb. 11, 2026
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Podcast host Joe Rogan accused the FBI of 'gaslighting' during a discussion of an Associated Press report that said federal agents found 'scant evidence' Jeffrey Epstein led a sex trafficking ring for powerful men, even as they documented extensive abuse of underage girls. Rogan's criticism carries weight due to his large audience and overlap with President Trump's supporters, potentially complicating the administration's efforts to move past Epstein-related disclosures.
Why it matters
Rogan's decision to publicly accuse federal investigators of 'gaslighting' over the Epstein case keeps an issue in the spotlight that the Trump administration has sought to move past. Coming from a figure often viewed as sympathetic—or at least adjacent—to Trump's political coalition, Rogan's remarks risk sustaining distrust of federal agencies within a key segment of the president's base and complicating efforts by the administration to close the chapter on Epstein-related disclosures.
The details
On Tuesday's episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan and guest Cheryl Hines discussed an AP story that said the FBI concluded Epstein wasn't running a sex trafficking ring for powerful men, despite extensive evidence of his abuse of minors. Rogan called this 'the gaslightiest gaslighting s*** I've ever heard in my life,' questioning how the FBI could conclude Epstein's actions were just 'a bunch of fun' and 'guys hanging out, being fellas, having cocktails, talking about science.'
- The AP report was published on February 11, 2026.
The players
Joe Rogan
A popular podcast host with a large audience that overlaps significantly with President Donald Trump's supporters.
Jeffrey Epstein
A financier who was accused of sex trafficking and abusing underage girls.
Ghislaine Maxwell
Epstein's longtime associate who was accused of facilitating his sex trafficking operation.
What they’re saying
“That's the gaslightiest gaslighting s*** I've ever heard in my life. What do they think is going on? Just a bunch of fun? Bunch of guys hanging out, being fellas, having cocktails, talking about science?”
— Joe Rogan, Podcast Host (The Joe Rogan Experience)
What’s next
Media organizations and individuals will continue reviewing millions of pages of Justice Department material released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and future reporting could surface additional context or overlooked evidence. Victims' lawyers will keep pressing the government and courts to prioritize survivor privacy in any further disclosures, while public figures and agencies spar over whether more files can or should be released.
The takeaway
Rogan's criticism of the FBI's findings in the Epstein case highlights the ongoing political tensions and distrust surrounding the investigation, particularly within segments of the president's base that Rogan's podcast reaches. This could make it more difficult for the Trump administration to move past the Epstein scandal and related disclosures.
