Podcaster Joe Rogan said his name appeared in recently released Justice Department records tied to Jeffrey Epstein because he declined efforts to arrange a meeting with the disgraced financier.
Speaking on Tuesday’s episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” Rogan said Epstein sought an introduction in 2017 after one of Rogan’s guests offered to connect them. “Jeffrey Epstein was trying to meet with me,” Rogan said, adding that he immediately rejected the idea after learning more about Epstein. “I was like, no thanks. It’s not even a possibility that I would’ve ever went, especially after I Googled him.”
Rogan said he told the intermediary the meeting was never going to happen and described the outreach as inappropriate. He said Epstein contacted theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss after Krauss appeared on Rogan’s show, asking to be introduced to the podcaster. Krauss later said he did not hear back from Rogan.
Rogan also criticized the government’s handling of the Epstein records, arguing that heavy redactions undermine public trust.
He said the release “looks terrible,” adding that withholding names of alleged co-conspirators while unredacting other material raises questions about transparency. Rogan has previously criticized officials over what he called inconsistencies surrounding the existence of evidence tied to Epstein.
The Justice Department has said names appearing in the files do not imply wrongdoing and that redactions are intended to protect victims and ongoing investigations.
