'Felt so blatantly political': Morning Joe reacts to Clinton's deposition

What this episode is about

A commentator describes Hillary Clinton’s deposition as highly political, noting Republicans’ presence and routine questions about Epstein, while highlighting Clinton’s statements denying involvement and the expectation that transcripts will shed more light. The piece emphasizes party dynamics, alleged political theater, and anticipated further disclosures from the deposition materials.

Key takeaways

• Political theater collided with substance: Clinton-era questions meet Epstein baggage, reshaping the hearing's legitimacy test.
• Comer’s strategy backfires as transparency talk collides with blurring lines between politics and investigation.
• Clinton’s nuanced commitment contrasts GOP fixation on Trump, revealing a party-wide pivot toward broader accountability—if sustained.
• Epstein file momentum risks eclipsing real policy scrutiny, turning a deposition into a culture-war focal point.
• Democrats weaponize new openness: per Comer's posture, future hearings may probe broader inquiries, not just Trump-linked tales.

Who speaks in this episode?

• Ali Vitale (Host) · 3 min speaking
• Hill (Guest) · 1 min speaking
• Lauren Boebert (Guest) · 1 min speaking
• WEXNER (Guest) · 1 min speaking
• Jeffrey Epstein (Guest) · 1 min speaking
• President Clinton (Guest) · 1 min speaking
• Pam Bondi (Guest) · 1 min speaking
• Chuck Grassley (Guest) · 1 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 3:00: Bill and Hillary Clinton, Jeffrey Epstein, Hillary Clinton, James Comer
2. 3:00 – 6:00: Donald Trump, James Comer, Jeffrey Epstein, Hillary Clinton
3. 6:00 – 9:00: Jeffrey Epstein, Department of Justice, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump
4. 9:00 – 12:00: Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi
5. 12:00 – 13:36: Donald Trump

Notable quotes from "'Felt so blatantly political': Morning Joe reacts to Clinton's deposition"

• The billionaire, the billionaire who most definitely had a years-long relationship funding Jeffrey Epstein.

  about Jeffrey Epstein · at 0:21

• THAT THE EVENTS OF THE LAST TWO DAYS REALLY DO OPEN THE DOOR FOR DEMOCRATS TO CRY MORE LOUDLY ABOUT THE NEED TO CALL PRESIDENT TRUMP IN FRONT OF THE COMMITTEE, COMBER AND…

  about Donald Trump · at 2:00

• THIS HOWARD LUTNICK PICTURE, AGAIN, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT YANKING THAT EARLIER PICTURE OF LUTNIK DOWN.

  about Howard Lutnick · at 5:14

• ON A DAY WHEN HE'S GOING TO AT A TIME IN THE YEAR WHEN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS ARE JUST A FEW MONTHS AWAY AND HIS POLL NUMBERS ARE DOWN, WHAT DOES THE WHITE HOUSE WANT HIM AND REPUBLICANS TO BE TALKING ABOUT?

  about Midterm Elections · at 6:32

• TRANSPARENCY FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDY AFTER REPORTS THIS WEEK, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WILL WITHHELD DOZENS OF PAGES OF DOCUMENTS FROM THE EPSTEIN FILES THAT INCLUDE AN ASSAULT ALLEGATION AGAINST DONALD TRUMP.

  about Department of Justice · at 7:33

• There's nowhere to hide on this, Ali Vitale.

  about Joe Vitale · at 8:40

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Jeffrey Epstein — Person · Core topic (central figure in files/investigation) · 6 mentions · first at 0:25
  The Epstein files and alleged associations are the central controversy driving depositions, DOJ transparency demands, and political conflict between Republicans and Democrats.
• Donald Trump — Person · Core topic (referenced subject of investigation/political controversy) · 6 mentions · first at 4:08
  Discussed as the current president whose alleged connections to Jeffrey Epstein and related DOJ document handling are central to the political dispute. Democrats are said to want him called before the committee, while Republicans argue he answers questions publicly.
• Hillary Clinton — Person · Core topic (deponent / referenced political figure) · 4 mentions · first at 0:06
  Her deposition in Chappaqua is a key news hook; she frames the committee’s actions as political and urges focus on prominent names in the Epstein files. Her statements are used to argue Republicans are distracting from Trump-related questions.
  ALI VITALI WAS UP THERE IN CHAPELQUAW, NEW YORK YESTERDAY COVERING HILLARY CLINTON'S DEPOSITION.
• Bill and Hillary Clinton — Person · Core topic (upcoming deponent / referenced subject) · 7 mentions · first at 0:06
  His testimony/deposition is positioned as more substantively relevant because he may face 'valid questions' about Epstein-related matters and funding around the Clinton Global Initiative.
  WE'LL BE BACK THERE TODAY TO COVER THE TESTIMONY OF FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON.
• James Comer — Person · Referenced political actor (committee chair driving releases/subpoenas) · 3 mentions · first at 2:26
  Described as releasing deposition transcripts quickly and as the Republican chair whose actions 'open the door' to uncomfortable questions (including potentially about Trump’s orbit).
  I THINK THERE IS A CLAMORING TO GET TRUMP AND I WILL ALSO SAY I ASKED CHAIRMAN COMER IN THE SPIRIT OF NONPARTISANSHIP AS HE KEEPS SAYING, DO YOU WANT TO TALK HE SAID TO ME YESTERDAY, THAT'S PROBABLY LIKELY WHICH IS A NOTABLE.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi — Person · Core topic (Attorney General referenced as responsible for DOJ actions) · 3 mentions · first at 5:23
  Named as the Attorney General facing pressure from Republican senators and a House Oversight subpoena regarding alleged withholding/redactions of Epstein-file documents.
  REPUBLICAN SENATORS CALLING FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDY AFTER REPORTS THIS WEEK, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WILL WITHHELD DOZENS OF PAGES OF DOCUMENTS FROM THE.
• Joe Vitale — Person · Referenced correspondent (on-air reporter providing firsthand account) · 2 mentions · first at 0:12
  Provides reporting from Chappaqua/Westchester County on the Clinton deposition(s), committee dynamics, and the political framing around Epstein-related transparency and subpoenas.
• Les Wexner — Person · Referenced witness (deposition subject) · 2 mentions
  Mentioned as a billionaire with a years-long relationship funding Jeffrey Epstein; Republicans allegedly skipped his deposition, used to argue selective political interest.
  They couldn't show up for that one, but they all made it to Chappaqua, Lauren Boebert, the congressman taking a photo from inside the deposition against the rules.
• Chuck Grassley — Person · Referenced lawmaker (calls for disclosure) · 1 mention · first at 8:00
  Cited as Senate Judiciary Committee chair arguing that if a law requires documents be released, then all documents should be released—supporting the transparency theme.
  SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CHUCK GRASSLEY SAID WHEN WE PASS A LAW THAT SAYS all documents need to be put out.
• Susan Collins — Person · Referenced lawmaker (invokes Transparency Act intent) · 1 mention · first at 8:09
  Quoted saying missing files appear contrary to the intent/spirit of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, reinforcing bipartisan pressure on DOJ.
  Senator Susan Collins of Maine said the missing files goes against the spirit of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, saying, quote, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE AND WHETHER.
• Howard Lutnick — Person · Referenced figure (example of DOJ material being pulled down) · 1 mention · first at 5:14
  Mentioned in connection with a DOJ-removed image/material ('Lutnick picture') as an example used to argue DOJ is selectively managing disclosures.
• Thom Tillis — Person · Referenced lawmaker (reacts to reporting) · 1 mention · first at 8:29
  Cited as saying that if reporting about withheld materials is true, it is concerning—another example of Republican concern about DOJ handling.
  Senator Tom Tillis, another Republican of North Carolina, said he had not read the reporting but, quote, if it's in fact true, it is concerning.
• Jonathan O'Meara — Person · Referenced speaker (addressed on-air) · 1 mention · first at 4:46
  Addressed by name while discussing 'tens of thousands of documents' containing Donald Trump’s name, suggesting he is a co-panelist/participant in the segment.
  Gaggles, as you were saying, and instead go to the tens of thousands of documents, Jonathan O'Meara, the tens of thousands of documents that contain the name of Donald Trump and other TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE TRUMP.

Companies & orgs

• Department of Justice — Organization · Core topic (institution accused of withholding/redacting records) · 2 mentions · first at 7:37
  Portrayed as withholding or pulling down Epstein-file materials and thus fueling political backlash and calls for transparency. The DOJ’s compliance with disclosure expectations/law is debated throughout.
• Clinton Global Initiative — Organization · Referenced organization (funding questions in deposition) · 1 mention · first at 1:48
  Raised as a line of questioning Bill Clinton may face, specifically about how funding for the initiative came to be, tying the deposition to broader Clinton-world scrutiny.
  THAT CHANCE AND SO THE DYNAMICS ARE QUITE HE'S GOING TO BE PRESSED ON INCLUDE HOW FUNDING FOR THE CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE CAME TO BE.

Concepts & topics

• Epstein Files Transparency Act — Concept · Core topic (legal framework for disclosure) · 1 mention · first at 8:14
  Cited by senators as the law whose intent/spirit is allegedly violated by missing files and redactions, anchoring the debate over what DOJ is required to release.
  Senator Susan Collins of Maine said the missing files goes against the spirit of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, saying, quote, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE AND WHETHER THERE'S LEGITIMATE REASON FOR.
• UFOs — Concept · Referenced talking point (example of politicized questioning) · 1 mention · first at 0:53
  Raised as an example of surprising/irrelevant topics allegedly brought up in the hearing, used to argue the proceeding was 'blatantly political.'
  WESTCHESTER COUNTY FOR ME BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T THINK I ANTICIPATED, WILLY, THAT THIS HEARING WHEN A SOURCE TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT UFOs AND PIZZA GATE, I…
• Pizzagate — Concept · Referenced conspiracy theory (example of politicized questioning) · 1 mention · first at 0:56
  Mentioned alongside UFOs as a topic allegedly raised, reinforcing the claim that the hearing was driven by political theater rather than fact-finding.
  AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T THINK I ANTICIPATED, WILLY, THAT THIS HEARING WHEN A SOURCE TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT UFOs AND PIZZA GATE, I THINK THE POLITICS WERE VERY I ACTUALLY HAD TO DOUBLE-CHECK REALLY?

Places & events

• Chappaqua — Place · Core setting (site of deposition) · 1 mention · first at 0:30
  Identified as the location where Hillary Clinton’s deposition took place and where Republicans traveled, making it the geographic focal point of the segment’s reporting.
  They couldn't show up for that one, but they all made it to Chappaqua, Lauren Boebert, the congressman taking a photo from inside the deposition against the rules.
• Midterm Elections — Event · Referenced political context (timing/strategic backdrop) · 1 mention · first at 6:34
  Used to frame incentives for the White House/Republicans to shift attention away from Epstein and toward the economy as elections approach.
• Westchester County — Place · Referenced location (setting for deposition coverage) · 1 mention · first at 0:47
  Mentioned as the broader area associated with Chappaqua and the reporter’s travel/coverage, grounding where the deposition activity occurred.
  WHAT WAS YOUR TAKEAWAY FROM BEING UP THERE FIRST OF ALL AND HEARING FROM SECRETARY WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GO BACK HOME TO WESTCHESTER COUNTY FOR ME BUT AT THE SAME…

Full transcript with timestamps

0:01 Hill reportehost of way too early WE'LL BE BACK TO THE TESTIMONY OF ALI VITALI WAS UP THERE IN CHAPELQUAW, NEW YORK YESTERDAY COVERING HILLARY CLINTON'S DEPOSITION. WE'LL BE BACK THERE TODAY TO COVER THE TESTIMONY OF FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON. SO, ALLIE, THERE'S SO MUCH TO GO THROUGH HERE. FIRST OF ALL, THE FACT THAT REPUBLICANS EVEN WERE THERE. WE'LL REMIND OUR VIEWERS THAT LAST WEEK THEY COULDN'T BE BOTHERED TO ATTEND THE DEPOSITION OF LESS WEXNER, The billionaire, the billionaire who most definitely had a years-long relationship funding Jeffrey Epstein.

0:28 They couldn't show up for that one, but they all made it to Chappaqua, Lauren Boebert, the congressman taking a photo from inside the deposition against the rules. WELL, LOOK, ANY EXCUSE TO GO RELEASING IT TO A PODCASTER WHO THEN PUBLICIZED IT. WHAT WAS YOUR TAKEAWAY FROM BEING UP THERE FIRST OF ALL AND HEARING FROM SECRETARY WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GO BACK HOME TO WESTCHESTER COUNTY FOR ME BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T THINK I ANTICIPATED, WILLY, THAT THIS HEARING WHEN A SOURCE TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT UFOs AND PIZZA GATE, I THINK THE POLITICS WERE VERY I ACTUALLY HAD TO DOUBLE-CHECK REALLY?

1:00 IS THAT ACTUALLY HOW THEY'RE SPENDING THEIR TIME HERE? BECAUSE IT FELT SO BLATANTLY POLITICAL AND I FELT LIKE THE POLITICS WERE VERY MUCH ON DISPLAY YESTERDAY I THINK THE DYNAMICS ARE VERY DIFFERENT TODAY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON ACTUALLY DOES HAVE VALID QUESTIONS TO ANSWER AND MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WAS SAID IN THAT DEPOSITION, AND I DO THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET I'M LOOKING AT THE TRANSCRIPT IN THE VIDEO ACCORDING TO COMER WHO HAS BEEN RELEASING THEM WITHIN 24 HOURS OR SO OF THESE DEPOSITIONS HAPPENING.

1:27 MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT COMMITTEE THAT EVEN AS CLINTON WENT IN THE ROOM AND SAID, I NEVER KNEW JEFFREY EPSTEIN, I NEVER WENT TO THE ISLAND AND NEVER FLEW ON PRESSED ON THE PLANE. HER ANSWER WHEN SHE WAS ASKED ABOUT THAT BY REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WAS YOU HAVE TO ASK MY HUSBAND AND SO NOW THE COMMITTEE WILL GET THAT CHANCE AND SO THE DYNAMICS ARE QUITE HE'S GOING TO BE PRESSED ON INCLUDE HOW FUNDING FOR THE CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE CAME TO BE. HILLARY CLINTON WAS A SENATOR DURING THAT POINT SO AGAIN, WALLS OFF FROM WHAT WAS HAPPENING THERE.

1:55 AND I THINK I THINK THE DYNAMICS TODAY ARE QUITE DIFFERENT BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THE EVENTS OF THE LAST TWO DAYS REALLY DO OPEN THE DOOR FOR DEMOCRATS TO CRY MORE LOUDLY ABOUT THE NEED TO CALL PRESIDENT TRUMP IN FRONT OF THE OF THE COMMITTEE, COMBER AND REPUBLICANS KEEP PIVOTING TO THIS IDEA THAT TRUMP ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS REGULARLY IN THE MEDIA DESPITE THE FACT THAT WHEN HE GETS QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, HE TYPICALLY

2:22 I THINK THERE IS A CLAMORING TO GET TRUMP AND I WILL ALSO SAY I ASKED CHAIRMAN COMER IN THE SPIRIT OF NONPARTISANSHIP AS HE KEEPS SAYING, DO YOU WANT TO TALK HE SAID TO ME YESTERDAY, THAT'S PROBABLY LIKELY WHICH IS A NOTABLE AND DIFFERENT RESPONSE THAN I'VE GOTTEN IN THE PAST. IT WAS NOTE JUST YESTERDAY THERE HAD BEEN A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE D.O.J. MATERIAL, THE D.O.J. MATERIAL, THE D.O.J. MATERIAL, THE D.O.J. MATERIAL, THE D.O.J. MATERIAL SUDDENLY PULLED DOWN YESTERDAY RAISING ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS THERE BUT THAT WAS NOTEWORTHY THAT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME MEAN, I MEAN, IT SEEMED LIKE THIS COMMITTEE WAS INTERESTED IN PROBING INTO TRUMP'S ORBIT, THOUGH PERHAPS NOT THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF.

2:56 AND JOE MECA, I MEAN, YES, TO ALI'S POINT, PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL FACE SOME QUESTIONS TODAY, ALTHOUGH I'M CERTAIN WHILE HE DOES SO, LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS, HE'LL ALSO REDIRECT AND SAY WELL, I WAS PRESIDENT MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, DECADES AGO. THERE SHOULD BE SOMEONE ELSE IN THE OFFICE RIGHT NOW WHO I THINK IT WILL BE FOCUSED CONCERN AND SECRETARY CLINTON MADE THOSE POINTS YESTERDAY. I WANT TO READ A LITTLE BIT FROM HER OPENING STATEMENT WHICH WAS RELEASED. THE SECRETARY WROTE THIS, YOU HAVE COMPELLED ME TO TESTIFY FULLY AWARE THAT I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE THAT WOULD ASSIST YOUR INVESTIGATION IN ORDER TO DISTRACT ATTENTION FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ACTIONS AND TO COVER THEM UP DESPITE LEGITIMATE CALLS FOR ANSWERS.

3:37 THE SECRETARY ADDED, GUYS, YOU HAVE MADE LITTLE EFFORT TO THIS IS THE EPSTEIN FILE TO CALL THE PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP MOST PROMINENTLY IN THE EPSTEIN FILES AND THAT RIGHT THERE IS THE HEART OF IT. AND OF COURSE, IT IS JAMES COMER AND THE REPUBLICANS THAT CAUSES THIS TO HAPPEN. TO GIVE SOMEBODY WITH Hillary Clinton's name, her authority, her platform to speak about this. And I think Donald Trump understood this when she said, I'm uncomfortable with this. I like both of them. And so she said yesterday after, again, after the charade, it would get to the bottom of reports that DOJ withheld FBI interviews in which a survivor accuses President Trump of

4:40 gaggles, as you were saying, and instead go to the tens of thousands of documents, Jonathan O'Meara, the tens of thousands of documents that contain the name of Donald Trump and other TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NOW. NOT IN 1997, 8, 9, 2000, WITH THE DEMOCRATS, BUT NOW IN 2026 WHICH THEY CONTINUE TO IGNORE AND LIKE YOU SAID, THEY'RE YANKING DOWN THEY DON'T FOUND ANY INFORMATION ABOUT DONALD TRUMP THAT THEY THINK IS UNCOMFORTABLE. THIS HOWARD LUTNICK PICTURE, AGAIN, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT YANKING THAT EARLIER PICTURE OF LUTNIK DOWN.

5:21 THEY'RE DOING IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THEY CONTINUE, PAM BONDI AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE NAMES OF RICH AND POWERFUL MEN WHO WRITE THE MOST HEINOUS THINGS ABOUT YOUNG GIRLS, WE KNOW, THOUGH, THAT HE'S BEEN A LITTL LEARY OF THIS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. AND, JEFF, WHAT CHAIRMAN COMER HAS DONE HERE HAS OPENED THE DOOR. OPENED THE DOOR FOR SOME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED IN A SIMILAR DEPETITION DOWN THE ROAD TO A SECRETARY LUTNICK, PERHAPS EVEN TO A PRESIDENT I THINK THE DEMOCRATS TAKE CONTROL OF THE HOUSE COME THIS FALL.

5:59 BUT I THINK IF, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS TODAY. BUT IF THIS WAS MEANT TO BE I THINK THIS IS A STATEMENT TO DISTRACT FROM WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS TEAM AND EPSTEIN. IT SEEMS TO BE, LIKE OTHER EFFORTS EARLIER THIS YEAR, IT'S TIME FOR AMERICA TO MOVE ON. THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE, I'M EXHONERATED AND IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON. AT A TIME WHEN THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS PRESIDENT TRUMP TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY ON A DAY WHEN HE'S GOING TO TEXAS TO TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY. ON A DAY WHEN HE'S GOING TO AT A TIME IN THE YEAR WHEN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS ARE JUST A FEW MONTHS AWAY AND HIS POLL NUMBERS ARE DOWN, WHAT DOES THE WHITE HOUSE WANT HIM AND REPUBLICANS TO BE TALKING ABOUT?

6:40 NOT JEFFREY YEPSTEIN. WHAT ARE THEY DOING? THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT JEFFREY YEPSTEIN AND GIVING A PLATFORM TO SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS HOW I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY THEM. AND SECRETARY CLINTON DID THAT YESTERDAY. DID THEY THINK SHE WASN'T GOING TO COME OUT AND TALK AFTERWARDS? DID THEY THINK SHE WASN'T GOING TO PUT OUT HER TALKING POINTS OR OPENING REMARKS ON SOCIAL SHE KNOWS HOW TO DO THIS. SHE'S GOOD AT THIS. YEAH, SHE'S BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK AND SHE'S RAISING ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS WHICH ARE AS YOU RIGHTLY SAID EXACTLY AND THE FOCUS IS TURNING TO HIM BECAUSE HIS FELLOW MEMBERS, HIS FELLOW REPUBLICAN PARTY MEMBERS ARE LEADING IT THERE.

7:23 AND SOME OF THOSE REPUBLICANS ALLY ARE NOW BEGINNING TO SPEAK OUT BECAUSE THEY SEE WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME, THAT THIS JUST ISN'T GOING AWAY. REPUBLICAN SENATORS CALLING FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDY AFTER REPORTS THIS THIS WEEK, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WILL WITHHELD DOZENS OF PAGES OF DOCUMENTS FROM THE EPSTEIN FILES THAT INCLUDE AN ASSAULT ALLEGATION AGAINST DONALD TRUMP. SOMETHING HILLARY CLINTON REMINDED THE COMMITTEE OF YESTERDAY. SENATOR JOHN KENNEDY OF THE D.O.J.

7:53 NEEDS TO RELEASE THE DOCUMENTS, THIS IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY UNTIL THERE IS FULL DISCLOSURE. SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CHUCK GRASSLEY SAID WHEN WE PASS A LAW THAT SAYS all documents need to be put out. It seems to me all documents need to be put out. Again, these are all Republicans. Senator Susan Collins of Maine said the missing files goes against the spirit of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, saying, quote, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE AND WHETHER THERE'S LEGITIMATE REASON FOR REDACTIONS OR WITHHOLDING SINCE HE'S CURRENTLY IN OFFICE TALKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT, BUT THAT WOULD SEEM TO BE CONTRARY WITH THE INTENT OF THE law. That's Susan Collins.

8:29 Senator Tom Tillis, another Republican of North Carolina, said he had not read the reporting but, quote, if it's in fact true, it is concerning. There's nowhere to hide on this, Ali Vitale. That's why you're seeing even Republicans now saying, hey, Pam Bondi, follow the law, put it all out there. Let these chips fall where they may. Our own supporters, the people who vote for us, they want answers on this too. They've THEY'VE BEEN CALLING FOR THEM FOR YEARS. DO YOU THINK AT SOME POINT THE DAMN BREAKS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ACTUALLY DOES WHAT IT'S REQUIRED TO DO BY LAW AND PUT EVERYTHING OUT THERE?

9:05 I'M NOT I'M NOT SURE. LOOK, THE PROBLEM WITH THIS LAW THAT PASSED ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY, SO REPUBLICANS ARE HAVING A LAW THAT THEY THEMSELVES VOTED FOR BE DEFIED WHICH IS PARTLY WHY THEY'RE SAYING THIS. THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM I THINK IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE PROBLEM, AND OTHER THAN SAYING IN PUBLIC PRESSURE FORUMS THAT THE AG AND DOJ NEED TO DO MORE, IT'S NOT CLEAR WHAT THEY CAN DO TO ENFORCE IT, EXCEPT THAT THAT IS A SUBPOENA THAT IS STILL HANGING OUT THERE FROM THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO PAM BONDI THAT DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS FEEL SHE'S NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH AS THEY WERE ENFORCING THE POSSIBLE CONTEMPT FOR IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENFORCING A SUBPOENA FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TRYING TO BRING HER TO HEAL INTO COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT THE COMMITTEE NEEDS.

9:52 THAT IS A THREAD THREAD I'M WATCHING TO SEE IF ULTIMATELY ANYTHING COMES OF, ESPECIALLY AS NOW REPUBLICAN SENATORS ARE ADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE AROUND BONDI. WELL, YEAH, AND WHEN YOU YOU HAVE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY AND OTHER REPUBLICANS SAYING THEY NEED TO GET OUT. THEY NEED TO GET OUT. I WILL TELL YOU ONE OF THE REASONS THEY NEED TO GET OUT AND IT'S VERY BASIC, IF IT'S NOT RELEASED, ALL RIGHT, ANY great trial lawyer will tell you that you let the jury know the information. You give them the bad news up front.

10:23 If there's something hanging out there, as one great lawyer, a trial lawyer told me if you give the jury the opportunity to think the worst, they will think the worst of your client. So right now, think about it. Right now, there are news NEWS STORIES ALL OVER TALKING ABOUT HOW A YOUNG WOMAN, A MINOR MAYBE AS YOUNG AS 13, 14, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO THE FBI REPEATEDLY ABOUT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES MANY YEARS AGO WHEN she was 13 or 14 doing terrible things to her. Now, if that is not true, you want to get that out even if it is true, it has to get out because since the information is out there, a cover-up only makes the jury in this case voters think the absolute worst, right?

11:28 So this is why again what the Justice Department has been doing has been so stupid, it's been so self-defeating and it has only kept this story alive. I swear we've been talking about this for nine months now. I keep talking about they are doing damage to Donald Trump's reputation because they have so badly mishandled this. Whatever ever happens, the information needs to get out because people already know about the allegations. They know about the FBI investigations. They know about the FBI interviews. So this information has to get out, not just for the sake of the young woman at the time, not for the sake of getting to the bottom of this, but politically for the president to get it out there.

12:19 I think it's too late. Because if it doesn't get out there, again, people will assume that everything they hear is true. It's just too much. Because it's being covered up by the DOJ. The Republicans have lost all credibility on redactions after re-traumatizing countless victims by releasing unredacted countless pictures and information about these women while covering up the men and holding back the information on Donald Trump. The damage is done. This has been botched Bondi style. I mean, it is bad. It has been botched terribly.

12:53 And there are a lot of Republicans and people in the White House who wonder why a lot of these people still have their jobs. It's a good question. But again, the information is getting out there. Nine months ago, they should have gotten ahead of it. They didn't listen to NOT A LITTLE BIT TO US AND THINGS JUST GET WORSE BY THE DAY. MS NOW SENIOR CAPITOL HILL REPORTER AND

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "'Felt so blatantly political': Morning Joe reacts to Clinton's deposition"?

Ali Vitale (Host), Hill (Guest), Lauren Boebert (Guest), WEXNER (Guest), Jeffrey Epstein (Guest), President Clinton (Guest), Pam Bondi (Guest), Chuck Grassley (Guest).

What is "'Felt so blatantly political': Morning Joe reacts to Clinton's deposition" about?

A commentator describes Hillary Clinton’s deposition as highly political, noting Republicans’ presence and routine questions about Epstein, while highlighting Clinton’s statements denying involvement and the expectation that transcripts will shed more light. The piece emphasizes party dynamics, alleged political theater, and anticipated further disclosures from the deposition materials.

What is mentioned in this MS NOW episode?

21 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Jeffrey Epstein, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Department of Justice, Bill and Hillary Clinton, James Comer. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "'Felt so blatantly political': Morning Joe reacts to Clinton's deposition"?

The episode runs 14 min; the transcript is about 2,267 words in 21 timestamped sections.

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