Trevor Noah argues that Jeffrey Epstein's death suggests the lack of a conspiracy, finally
"Pedophile and fake billionaire Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his jail cell after he apparently committed suicide on Saturday morning — which, if you ask me, is some bulls--t," Trevor Noah said on Monday's Daily Show. "I wanted Jeffrey Epstein to stay alive for two reasons: One, so that his victims could get their day in court, and two, I wanted him to snitch on all his high-profile pedophile friends. Now he's dead!"
"We already had questions about whole pedophile operation; now we have additional questions about how he died," Noah said. "They weren't checking in on Epstein and they took him off suicide watch. Why?" Because Epstein's circle "included some high-profile individuals, everyone from Bill Clinton and Donald Trump all the way to famous scientists and even royalty," he added, "many out there are wondering if Epstein really suicided himself."
Noah said it's "pretty wild" that the president of the United States is getting in on the conspiracy mongering, but "it's not just Trump. It seems like everybody thinks that something shady happened here. People on the right are saying it was the Clintons who killed Jeffrey, people on the left are saying Trump killed him, Jussie Smollett says it was two white Nigerian guys. And I don't know, guys. I'm not a conspiracy theorists but something weird happened here." His theory: America did it.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Thanks to overworked staff and underfunded prisons, suicide among inmates is all too common in the United States," he said. "I get why everybody's suspicious of how this all went down ... but to be honest, I'm also not sure that there's a conspiracy here. If anything, for me the conspiracy has been taking place over the last 10 years," starting with Epstein's mysterious sweetheart plea deal in Florida. "And maybe," he said, "just maybe, what happened here is the result of there not being a conspiracy anymore and Epstein being treated, for the first time, just like everyone else." Watch below. Peter Weber
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published