Sen. Bernie Sanders pushed back sharply this week against President Donald Trump’s call to “move on” from renewed attention surrounding the Epstein files, arguing that the controversy raises deeper questions about accountability and whether powerful individuals are treated differently under the law.
Speaking during a CNN interview with Kaitlan Collins on Tuesday, the Vermont independent said the focus should not be limited to the disturbing details contained in the documents themselves, but should instead prompt a broader examination of how wealth and influence can shield people from consequences.
“This is not just about one individual or one set of files,” Sanders said. “This is about a system that too often allows powerful and wealthy people to escape accountability while ordinary Americans face the full force of the law.”
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Sanders’ remarks came shortly after Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, dismissed continued discussion of the Epstein documents and urged the public and media to move on. The president did not elaborate extensively on his reasoning, but characterized the renewed attention as unproductive and backward-looking.
The Epstein files — a collection of court records, testimony, and previously sealed materials connected to investigations into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein — have reentered the public conversation in recent weeks, reigniting debate about who knew what, when, and whether justice was fully served. Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, a death that itself sparked widespread controversy and skepticism.
For Sanders, the renewed attention is not a distraction, but a necessary moment of reckoning.
“When people with immense power are implicated in wrongdoing, the instinct of the establishment is often to minimize, deflect, or wait until the public gets tired,” Sanders said during the interview. “That’s exactly the wrong approach if we care about justice.”
Sanders emphasized that his concern extends beyond the specifics of Epstein’s crimes, which he described as “horrific and undeniable.” Instead, he pointed to what he sees as a recurring pattern in American society: high-profile scandals involving elites that fade without full transparency or accountability.
“We’ve seen it time and time again,” Sanders said. “Different rules for different people. That is not acceptable in a democracy.”
Trump’s comments urging the country to move on drew criticism from several progressive lawmakers and advocacy groups, who argued that unresolved questions surrounding Epstein’s network and the handling of the case remain relevant. Supporters of the president, however, echoed his sentiment, saying that continued focus on the files risks fueling speculation and detracting from current policy priorities.
The White House has not directly responded to Sanders’ remarks, but administration allies have defended Trump’s position, noting that Epstein is deceased and that multiple investigations have already taken place. They argue that revisiting the issue repeatedly does little to advance concrete reforms.
Sanders rejected that framing, saying that accountability is not limited by time or inconvenience.
“If justice is uncomfortable, that doesn’t mean we abandon it,” he said. “It means we confront it honestly.”
During the interview, Sanders also linked the Epstein controversy to his long-standing critique of economic and political inequality. He argued that extreme concentrations of wealth often come with disproportionate influence over institutions meant to provide oversight, including regulators, prosecutors, and the media.
“When billionaires and powerful figures can shape narratives, delay investigations, or quietly settle issues out of public view, democracy itself is weakened,” Sanders said. “That’s what people are angry about, and they have every right to be.”
Media analysts note that Sanders’ comments reflect a broader effort by progressives to frame the Epstein files not as isolated scandal, but as evidence of systemic failure. By contrast, Trump’s call to move on aligns with a more transactional approach to governance, emphasizing forward momentum and political pragmatism over revisiting unresolved controversies.
The exchange highlights a familiar divide between the two figures. Sanders has long positioned himself as an outsider willing to challenge entrenched power, while Trump often frames criticism of elites through a populist lens that nonetheless discourages prolonged institutional scrutiny.
Public reaction to Sanders’ remarks has been mixed. Supporters praised him for addressing what they see as an uncomfortable truth about unequal justice, while critics accused him of exploiting a sensitive issue for political messaging. Some legal experts caution that while transparency is important, discussions must be grounded in verified facts rather than inference or implication.
Sanders acknowledged those concerns, stressing that accountability does not mean abandoning due process.
“Nobody is saying people should be judged without evidence,” he said. “But evidence should be examined, not buried. Questions should be answered, not dismissed.”
As the Epstein files continue to draw attention, it remains unclear whether additional investigations or disclosures will follow. What is clear is that the debate has become a proxy for larger questions about trust in institutions, the power of wealth, and whether justice in America truly applies equally to all.
For Sanders, the issue is emblematic of a deeper problem he has spent decades warning about.
“If we allow ourselves to ‘move on’ every time powerful people are involved,” he said, “then we guarantee that nothing ever really changes.”
The contrast between Sanders’ call for scrutiny and Trump’s push for closure underscores how the Epstein case, years after Epstein’s death, continues to resonate far beyond the courtroom — as a symbol of unresolved accountability in a system many Americans believe favors the few over the many.
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