Recently, podcast giant Joe Rogan didn’t hold back his thoughts on the congressional vote regarding the release of Jeffrey Epstein‘s files. He talked about it in detail in a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience featuring comedian Brian Simpson.
The vote, which saw an overwhelming 427 to 1 majority in favor of releasing the documents, left one glaring outlier. When the topic came up, Rogan expressed disbelief at the lopsided vote.
“They voted 427 to 1,” Jamie stated. Rogan was surprised and asked, “Who was the one?”
The answer: Representative Clay Higgins from Arkansas, who cast the sole vote against releasing the investigative documents related to the notorious s*x trafficking case.
Higgins defended his position on social media by claiming the bill “abandons 250 years of criminal justice procedure in America” and argued that releasing the files would “reveal and injure thousands of innocent people, witnesses, people who provided alibi, family members, etc.”
He stated that if enacted, “this type of broad reveal of criminal investigative files released to a rabid media will absolutely result in innocent people being hurt.”
But Rogan and Simpson weren’t buying it. Simpson cut through the reasoning with a simple response: “He’s in that s**t.”
The implication was clear—the lone vote against transparency raised more questions than it answered.
However, Rogan tried to somewhat defend the decision by saying: “Like Epstein had dinners and had celebrities go over his house. Like Chelsea Handler was one of the people that went over his house. I don’t think Chelsea Handler is out there m*lesting kids.”
Simpson retorted: “I think a lot of these motherf**kers don’t respect the public. They don’t respect our intelligence. You know, like I think the average American is smart enough to know the difference between somebody that was just in there or somebody that testified than somebody that was banging children.”
Rogan, while agreeing, defended the situation by saying: “See, the thing is, the average American probably can tell the difference. But there are sub average individuals that all they want to know is you’re on the list, And they hear you’re on the list and they might try to kill you. And that that is a fact.”
However, Rogan said that he was for releasing the files. He continued: “But here’s the thing. The problem is and I’m not advocating for not releasing the files. I’m just saying there’s enough dumb nutty people that will think that you’re guilty.”
Rogan and Simpson discussed how people are tired of obfuscation and delays, referencing similar situations like the JFK files, which have been repeatedly delayed despite promises of release.
Simpson said: “There been so much obfuscation with this. It would be different if there was no push back, but there’s I think what’s at stake is people’s belief in the integrity of the process.”
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” Simpson noted, quoting the principle that postponing transparency only erodes public trust. Simpson added his perspective on the political dynamics at play, suggesting that many politicians care more about protecting their allies than upholding principles. “I don’t care who’s in there. Put that s**t in the street.”
The discussion underscored a growing public sentiment: Americans are smart enough to distinguish between someone who simply attended an event and someone who was actively involved in criminal behavior.
Rogan argued that the push to keep the files sealed is less about protecting innocent people and more about controlling the narrative. He said: “They want to be able to decide whose names get seen and whose names don’t,” he said.
But when 427 members of Congress vote one way and only one votes against it, that person better have an exceptionally good reason—and Clay Higgins’ explanation didn’t pass the smell test.