The ABC is set to premiere a documentary special titled *Diabolical: The Epstein Files* on March 2 at 8:00pm on ABC TV and ABC iview. The program examines the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, described as a legal and political saga that shook the Trump administration and raised questions about equality before the law. The documentary explores what has been revealed through the Epstein files.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) called on President Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to testify before Congress about their relationships with Jeffrey Epstein, citing Bill Clinton's recent testimony before the House Oversight Committee as a precedent. Khanna stated he is working with a Republican colleague to subpoena Lutnick, with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) also expressing support for Lutnick's testimony. Newly released Justice Department files revealed emails showing a longer relationship between Lutnick and Epstein than previously known, including coordination for a trip to Epstein's private island, though Lutnick has denied any wrongdoing and said his family accompanied him on the visit. The White House responded by asserting Trump has been "totally exonerated" regarding Epstein and highlighted the administration's cooperation with document releases.
The U.S. Justice Department has released photos of Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, offering a rare look inside the secluded compound. Epstein purchased the property in 1993 from the family of former New Mexico Gov. Bruce King and constructed a 26,700-square-foot mansion, along with numerous other structures including a seven-bay garage, firehouse, lodge, airstrip, and shooting range. The released files also include a 2015 insurance risk assessment report and undated photos showing Epstein and others at the property, including near a vintage Santa Fe caboose he placed on or near state land he was leasing. Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges in July 2019 and died in jail the following August.
The opinion piece draws parallels between the Watergate scandal and current Attorney General Pam Bondi's handling of the Epstein files, arguing she is engaged in a cover-up similar to those that ended the careers of three Watergate-era attorneys general. The author alleges Bondi has made false public statements about the Epstein files, violated the Epstein Transparency Act, and potentially perjured herself before Congress, while also referencing her past acceptance of a $25,000 Trump Foundation donation while deciding whether Florida would join a lawsuit against Trump University. The piece contextualizes Watergate's timeline — from the 1972 break-in to Nixon's 1974 resignation — to suggest that political scandals often escalate slowly before becoming unavoidable, implying Bondi's situation may follow a similar trajectory.
Marjorie Taylor Greene has claimed her family received death threats following her decision to push for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, a move that put her at odds with Donald Trump. The story is highlighted in connection with an ABC (Australia) documentary titled *Diabolical: The Epstein Files*. The article provides limited additional detail beyond promoting the program, which aired on March 2 on ABC TV and ABC iview.
Saturday Night Live's cold open this weekend addressed the U.S.-Iran strikes, with James Austin Johnson reprising his Donald Trump impression to comment on the military action. The sketch aired shortly after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iranian military targets, which prompted retaliatory attacks. Colin Jost also appeared as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, portraying him as outwardly confident but privately admitting fear and incompetence.
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) shared an unverified allegation at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Jeffrey Epstein files, suggesting Trump had abused a minor who was later murdered to prevent her from speaking. The claim was sourced from a 1995 limo driver, Dan Ferree, who reportedly has a history of extreme anti-Trump social media posts and whose FBI statement also included unrelated conspiracy claims about the Oklahoma City bombing and Hillary Clinton. Lieu reposted only two of the three pages of Ferree's statement, omitting the third page containing those additional claims — an act critics say was a deliberate effort to obscure the source's credibility. Law professor Jonathan Turley argues the incident reflects a broader pattern of prominent disinformation advocates spreading unverified claims themselves.
The article draws a parallel between the Watergate scandal and current Attorney General Pam Bondi's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, arguing that Bondi is engaged in a cover-up similar to those that brought down Nixon administration officials. The piece alleges Bondi has repeatedly misled the public about the Epstein files' contents, violated the Epstein Transparency Act, and potentially perjured herself before Congress, while also noting her past acceptance of a $25,000 Trump Foundation donation while deciding whether Florida would join a lawsuit against Trump University. The author compares the trajectory of Watergate — where the cover-up proved more damaging than the original crime — to Bondi's current situation, noting that three attorneys general lost their positions due to Watergate-related conduct. The article concludes that Bondi's political survival is dependent on Trump's protection, and warns that the lessons of Watergate about accountability and transparency remain relevant.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) posted a pointed criticism on X following President Trump's announcement that the U.S. had joined Israel in striking Tehran, suggesting the military action was an attempt to distract from the unreleased Epstein files. Massie, a consistent Trump critic, wrote that "bombing a country on the other side of the globe won't make the Epstein files go away." The Kentucky congressman has previously co-authored legislation to force disclosure of the Epstein files and claimed in February that redactions in the documents are protecting the identities of at least six men who may be implicated. Massie also suggested that more Republican defections from the Trump administration are likely after primary season concludes, citing private agreement from colleagues and a growing "retirement caucus."
Democratic Representative Ro Khanna warned Sunday that Republicans' success in compelling Bill and Hillary Clinton to testify before the House Oversight Committee about Jeffrey Epstein has set a precedent that could require Donald Trump to do the same. Khanna argued on NBC's Meet the Press that a "Clinton rule" now exists obligating presidents and their families to comply with congressional subpoenas, meaning Trump should testify about his own connections to Epstein. However, enforcing such a subpoena remains uncertain, as Congress relies on the Justice Department — led by Trump appointee Pam Bondi — to compel compliance, and Trump previously evaded a January 6 committee subpoena in 2022 through legal delays. Trump has been reported to appear in the Epstein files over a million times and has acknowledged a past relationship with Epstein that he says soured after a dispute over one of Epstein's victims.
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were skewered over the attack on Iran in a cutting Saturday Night Live sketch.
The sketch show offered a rapid response to the U.S. attack on Iran.