Bill Maher criticized both Democrats and Republicans for making newly released emails tied to Jeffrey Epstein the first major focus after a 43-day government shutdown. The emails — released by the House Oversight Committee — reportedly mention Donald Trump about 1,500 times and include a line that an email said Trump “knew about the girls,” which Trump denies. Maher mocked the predictable partisan fighting and accused Trump of using the files to deflect by urging probes into Bill Clinton. He urged viewers to see his full monologue on HBO’s Real Time With Bill Maher.
Bill Maher Slams Both Parties for Obsessing Over Released Epstein Emails: “We’re Doing This Again?”
Bill Maher criticized both Democrats and Republicans for making newly released emails tied to Jeffrey Epstein the first major focus after a 43-day government shutdown. The emails — released by the House Oversight Committee — reportedly mention Donald Trump about 1,500 times and include a line that an email said Trump “knew about the girls,” which Trump denies. Maher mocked the predictable partisan fighting and accused Trump of using the files to deflect by urging probes into Bill Clinton. He urged viewers to see his full monologue on HBO’s Real Time With Bill Maher.
12:27 PM, 11/15/2025Politics
Bill Maher Rips Into Politicians for Making Epstein Emails Priority
Comedian and commentator Bill Maher tore into leaders from both parties for devoting energy to what he called a “dead pervert’s emails” after the federal government reopened following a 43-day shutdown. Maher’s remarks came during the opening monologue of Friday’s Real Time With Bill Maher.
The emails in question were released this week by the House Oversight Committee and relate to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Among the material, Maher noted reports that President Donald Trump’s name is mentioned roughly 1,500 times and that one email reportedly says Trump “knew about the girls.” Maher framed the release as a predictable spectacle rather than a productive use of lawmakers’ time.
“We can get back to the important business of government, reading a dead pervert’s emails. We’re doing this again?” Maher asked, mocking the timing of the document release as the first major item after the shutdown ended.
Maher lampooned both parties for repeatedly leaking and publicizing portions of the files. “Does everyone have emails?” he quipped. “When you get elected, you’re given your security badge, the key to your office and this is your box of Epstein files. Release them endlessly.”
He also highlighted the legal and rhetorical tightrope around reporting such claims, noting the president denies the allegations and adding a wry aside about the controversies over private servers in politics.
“Trump doesn’t talk about Trump that much,” Maher joked, then added, cautiously, “of course, the president denies this — let’s be very clear about that, litigation-wise.”
Turning to the partisan fallout, Maher criticized the “ridiculous back-and-forth” the documents create and said the public will likely see parties use the material to argue Trump is either guilty or not guilty. He also mocked President Trump’s response, in which the president instructed the Justice Department to review former president Bill Clinton’s ties to Epstein — a move Maher called a diversionary tactic.
“I love this. Using the Epstein files to distract from the Epstein files,” Maher said, quoting the president’s vow to “not rest until I get to the middle of this.”
Maher encouraged viewers to watch his full monologue for more commentary. Real Time With Bill Maher airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on HBO.
Note: The emails were released by the House Oversight Committee and reports about names and quotations are based on the released material; some claims remain unproven and have been denied by the parties named.