Erin Burnett interrupted Rep. Nancy Mace during a heated CNN interview about whether President Trump supports releasing DOJ files tied to Jeffrey Epstein. Mace, one of four Republicans who forced a House vote, said Trump had "come around," while Burnett pointed to the DOJ's prosecution and conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell under the Biden administration. The exchange grew contentious after Mace blamed Democrats and the media for sidelining victims; Burnett defended the program's record of hosting survivors. The segment closed with Burnett congratulating the Republicans who forced the vote.
Erin Burnett Cuts Off Rep. Nancy Mace in Heated CNN Exchange Over Epstein Files
Erin Burnett interrupted Rep. Nancy Mace during a heated CNN interview about whether President Trump supports releasing DOJ files tied to Jeffrey Epstein. Mace, one of four Republicans who forced a House vote, said Trump had "come around," while Burnett pointed to the DOJ's prosecution and conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell under the Biden administration. The exchange grew contentious after Mace blamed Democrats and the media for sidelining victims; Burnett defended the program's record of hosting survivors. The segment closed with Burnett congratulating the Republicans who forced the vote.
08:45 PM, 11/18/2025Politics
Erin Burnett Cuts Off Rep. Nancy Mace in Heated CNN Exchange Over Epstein Files
CNN anchor Erin Burnett interrupted Rep. Nancy Mace during a tense on-air clash about whether President Donald Trump supports releasing Justice Department files tied to Jeffrey Epstein.
Mace, 47, is one of four House Republicans who signed a discharge petition that forced a floor vote on legislation to make those DOJ documents public. On Erin Burnett OutFront, Mace said she believes Trump has "come around" and is now "on board" with releasing records related to his late associate, despite earlier efforts to keep some materials sealed.
Burnett pushed back when Mace shifted the conversation to blame President Joe Biden and the media for allegedly sidelining victims. After Mace argued Democrats "could have done this under President Biden" and accused reporters of chasing "clickbait" about Trump rather than survivors' stories, Burnett interrupted to defend the program's record of featuring victims.
“I’m quite proud that on this program we’ve had every victim of Jeffrey Epstein that was willing to speak,” Burnett said, noting that Trump had called a vote to release the files "only a very bad or stupid Republican."
Mace repeated her claim that Trump had "come around," adding: "Biden never gave these women a chance. And that’s the story you all aren’t telling." Burnett countered by noting the Department of Justice's prosecution and conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell occurred under the Biden administration.
Burnett also referenced reporting discussed in the segment that Maxwell was transferred this summer to a minimum-security federal prison camp and mentioned Todd Blanche, who was named during the exchange. Those points were used to challenge Mace’s criticism of the Biden DOJ.
Mace returned to victims' concerns, saying survivors who come forward are often sued, smeared and defamed in the press, and that such consequences discourage reporting.
Burnett ended the interview by congratulating Mace and the three other Republicans who helped force the House vote. The Daily Beast has contacted Mace’s representatives for comment.