BEN SHAPIRO (HOST): Meanwhile, I will say there's great irony to the commentary of some people on this particular case. Here, I think, of Steve Bannon.
So, Steve Bannon has been very vocal on the idea that there's a giant cover up that has been going on. I will point out at this point that Steve Bannon made a documentary that never aired about Jeffrey Epstein in which he interviewed Jeffrey Epstein personally for 15 hours. For 15 hours, he interviewed him. Not just that.
According to Michael Wolff's book — according to Michael Wolff's book, Steve Bannon was trying to latch on to Epstein in order to rehab him. Quote, where is the comms piece in this, asked Bannon over the phone. Who's handling it? Who's on point? Are these your people, Reid? Well, OK. In fact, there really hasn't been anything in place because largely the view has been, let's not call more attention to this or antagonize the judges. This has been before, and not wanting to be seen attacking the victims. And so we haven't. Let me get this straight said Bannon. I think I understand this, but it's strains credulity. There's nothing in place. There hasn't been anything in place. No communications team. What was the response from Jeffrey's side to the Florida story? Who engaged? Epstein said we didn't engage. And then Weingarten, his lawyer said, I'm part of the problem here, I have to say. We have just felt that maybe this was wrong, OK, wrong that any effort to defend Jeffrey publicly stirs the pot and makes it more likely than not that people are gonna come out of the woodwork. This is crazy, said Bannon.
So again, Michael Tracey reporting that that Steve Bannon took part in media strategy sessions with Epstein, his lawyers, and Ehud Barak trying to game out how could they help his image after that 2008 Miami Herald series exposing the sweetheart deal they got from Alex Acosta.
So, release the Epstein tapes, Steve. I mean, like, seriously. More transparency is gooder. How about that? It seems like it makes sense to me.