The Don Lemon Show
The Don Lemon Show
February 9, 2026

Lemon LIVE at 5 | New Epstein Drop: Biggest BOMBSHELL Yet!

Quick Read

Don Lemon dissects the latest Epstein file revelations, highlighting alleged cover-ups, Donald Trump's extensive mentions, and a top cabinet member's contradicted ties, alongside an interview with Governor Wes Moore on alleged racial discrimination.
Epstein files allegedly name Donald Trump over 38,000 times, with claims of a high-level cover-up.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik's denials of close Epstein ties are contradicted by new documents, sparking resignation demands.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore suggests his disinvitation from a Trump-hosted dinner was racially motivated, linking it to broader attacks on Black communities.

Summary

Don Lemon unpacks a new tranche of Epstein files, emphasizing claims from Representative Melanie Stansbury that Donald Trump is at the center of a high-level cover-up, with his name appearing thousands of times. The host details allegations of victims as young as nine years old, directly refuting earlier media narratives. A key focus is Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik, whose public denials of close ties to Epstein are directly contradicted by newly released documents showing island visits and business dealings, leading to bipartisan calls for his resignation. Lemon also interviews Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who discusses being disinvited from a governors' dinner by Donald Trump, framing it as potentially racially motivated and part of a broader pattern of actions against Black communities and democratic institutions. Moore emphasizes the importance of states protecting elections from federal overreach.
The ongoing revelations from the Epstein files continue to expose alleged widespread corruption and cover-ups involving powerful figures, raising critical questions about accountability and justice for victims. The detailed contradictions of high-ranking officials like Howard Lutnik underscore a perceived lack of transparency and honesty at the highest levels of government. Furthermore, the discussion around Governor Wes Moore's disinvitation highlights concerns about political weaponization and racial bias within national leadership, impacting democratic norms and the representation of diverse voices.

Takeaways

  • New Epstein files reportedly contain evidence of victims as young as nine years old, contradicting earlier narratives.
  • Representative Melanie Stansbury alleges a 'cover-up of the highest proportions' involving Donald Trump and his associates, with Trump's name appearing over 38,000 times in recent file releases.
  • Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik publicly claimed he vowed in 2005 to never be in the same room as Epstein, but files suggest he visited Epstein's island and entered a business agreement in 2012.
  • Bipartisan calls for Howard Lutnik's resignation have emerged due to the contradictions in his statements regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Journalist Tara Palmeri highlights Epstein's lawyers contacting the CIA and NSA for proof of affiliation, suggesting Epstein acted as a 'hyperconnector' providing valuable information to intelligence agencies.
  • Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the only Black governor, was disinvited from a bipartisan governors' dinner hosted by Donald Trump, which Moore suggests was racially motivated.
  • Governor Moore asserts that states, not the federal government, control elections, pushing back against calls to nationalize the process.

Insights

1Epstein Files Allege 9-Year-Old Victims and Extensive Trump Mentions

New tranches of Epstein files reportedly contain evidence of victims as young as nine years old. Representative Melanie Stansbury claims Donald Trump is named over 38,000 times in recent releases, asserting a 'cover-up of the highest proportions' involving Trump and his former cabinet members like Howard Lutnik and Steve Bannon. This contradicts earlier media narratives that suggested Epstein's victims were 'barely legal' teenagers.

Chad Perram, a Fox News reporter, stated that Jamie Raskin confirmed evidence of 9-year-old victims after reviewing DOJ documents. Representative Stansbury's public statements detail Trump's numerous mentions and alleged involvement in a cover-up.

2Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik's Contradicted Ties to Epstein

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik publicly stated in a 2005 interview that he vowed to never be in the same room with Jeffrey Epstein again after a disturbing encounter. However, recently released Epstein files indicate Lutnik visited Epstein's Caribbean island and signed a stock purchase agreement with him in 2012, directly contradicting his earlier claims. This has led to bipartisan calls for his resignation.

Lutnik's 2005 interview clip where he describes cutting ties with Epstein. A tweet from 'Home of the Brave' citing file dates: '12/23/2012 Lutnik goes to Epstein Island' and '12/28/2012 Lutnik and Epstein sign a stock purchase agreement.' A Politico article confirms bipartisan calls for his resignation.

3Epstein's Alleged Intelligence Agency Connections

Jeffrey Epstein's lawyers reportedly contacted the CIA and NSA seeking proof of his affiliation with these agencies. The NSA responded with a 'GlowMar' (neither confirm nor deny) response, citing classified information. Epstein was also found to be messaging frequently with Bill Burns, the former CIA director. This suggests Epstein was a 'hyperconnector' who provided valuable information to intelligence agencies, potentially explaining the 'sweetheart deals' and lack of accountability he received.

Journalist Tara Palmeri's reporting, citing the Washington Post and her own investigations, including a story from Epstein's bodyguard about picking up files from Langley for Epstein.

4Governor Wes Moore Disinvited from White House Dinner, Citing Potential Racial Bias

Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the nation's only Black governor and Vice Chair of the National Governors Association, was disinvited from a traditional bipartisan governors' dinner at the White House by Donald Trump. Moore suggests this action was racially motivated, linking it to Trump's broader pattern of actions impacting Black communities, such as assaults on employment for Black women, attacks on HBCU funding, and attempts to ban books and history.

Governor Moore's direct account of being disinvited and his analysis of Trump's actions and rhetoric, including a tweet from Trump depicting the Obamas as apes.

Key Concepts

The Epstein Class

This model describes a powerful, interconnected network of individuals who allegedly leverage their influence and information to operate with impunity, avoiding justice for severe crimes due to their utility to government agencies or other powerful entities. Jeffrey Epstein is framed as a 'hyperconnector' within this class, trading access and information for protection.

Occam's Razor (Applied to Cover-ups)

The principle that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one is invoked to suggest that the extensive redactions and contradictory statements regarding the Epstein files indicate a deliberate cover-up rather than mere incompetence. The host argues that the most obvious reason for hiding information is to protect those involved.

Lessons

  • Demand transparency from elected officials regarding their connections to individuals like Jeffrey Epstein, especially when public statements contradict documented evidence.
  • Support organizations and journalists actively investigating and reporting on alleged corruption and cover-ups involving powerful figures.
  • Engage with state-level electoral processes and advocate for policies that protect voting rights and prevent federal overreach, as emphasized by Governor Wes Moore.

Notable Moments

Representative Melanie Stansbury details the alleged extent of Donald Trump's involvement in the Epstein files and a high-level cover-up.

This segment lays out the core allegations against a former president and his associates, framing the Epstein case as a significant political scandal involving obstruction and protection of powerful individuals.

Megan Kelly's past comments downplaying Epstein's pedophilia are played, then directly contrasted with new reports of 9-year-old victims.

This highlights the evolution of public understanding and media narratives surrounding Epstein's crimes and underscores the severity of the newly revealed information, while also critiquing specific media figures.

An Epstein survivor shares harrowing testimony of being raped multiple times a day as a 10-year-old.

This raw and emotional testimony humanizes the victims, emphasizing the horrific nature of the crimes and the long-lasting impact on survivors, reinforcing the urgency for justice.

Howard Lutnik's interview denying close ties to Epstein is played, immediately followed by documents contradicting his claims.

This direct juxtaposition powerfully exposes alleged hypocrisy and deception from a high-ranking government official, fueling public outrage and calls for accountability.

Governor Wes Moore discusses being disinvited from a White House dinner by Donald Trump and connects it to broader racial dynamics and attacks on democratic institutions.

This segment provides a first-hand account of alleged political and racial discrimination at the highest levels, illustrating how personal slights can reflect systemic issues and undermine democratic norms.

Quotes

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"Donald Trump is not only named thousands of times in the latest release from the Department of Justice. He is named over 38,000 times in the files that were released two weeks ago alone."

Representative Melanie Stansbury
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"The United States government is engaged in an active cover up of the largest sex trafficking scandal and influence pedaling scandal in the history of the United States. And Donald Trump is right at the center of it."

Representative Melanie Stansbury
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"Epstein's lawyers contacted the CIA and the NSA to ask for proof of his affiliation with the agencies. And they got back to them with a GlowMar response which was basically an either confirm or deny or we can't you know the NSA said we we can't say anything because it would give up sources, classified information, etc."

Tara Palmeri
"

"I don't look to the president of the United States for validation. I don't look to the president of the United States to make me feel worthy, right? My God makes me feel worthy. My family makes me feel worthy. My community makes me feel worthy. The president of the United States does not determine what my worthiness."

Governor Wes Moore
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"Don't let people that don't matter too much matter too much."

Governor Wes Moore

Q&A

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