“We all searched our names, right?” the late-night host joked.

Jon Stewart explains why his name is in the Epstein files

“We all searched our names, right?” the late-night host joked.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and *NME*.

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February 3, 2026 4:18 p.m. ET

Jon Stewart on 'The Daily Show'. Credit:

Jon Stewart is clarifying why his name appears in the latest batch of the Jeffrey Epstein files. **

“Of course, to get ahead of the story, I am also in the files,” the 63-year-old host explained on Monday’s episode of *The Daily Show*. Looking to the audience, he added, “We all searched our names, right?”**

But, before anyone freaks out, it’s not for the reason you might think. Stewart’s name was actually brought up in email correspondence between Epstein and producer Barry Josephson, whose credits include films like 2007’s *Enchanted* as well as television shows like *Bones*.

Jon Stewart hosts 'The Daily Show'.

Matt Wilson/Comedy Central

“I take you to the scene: It is midnight, Aug. 29, 2015,” the comedian began as a screenshot of the email chain was displayed beside him. “Jeffrey Epstein lies wide awake, his mind turning with ideas.” **

He goes on to explain that Epstein and Josephson were having a discussion about the next career move for an individual named “Woody,” whom Stewart hinted may be filmmaker Woody Allen.

“You all know which Woody, right?” he asked the audience. “It’s the Epstein files — it ain’t [Woody] Harrelson or the cowboy from *Toy Story*. You know which Woody I’m talking about.”

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The email chain continued with Epstein revealing that he personally suggested to Woody that he “do a new stand-up routine for either Apple TV or Amazon” in the future.

“Jeffrey Epstein always had his finger on the pulse of what America was clamoring for in 2015!” Stewart quipped. “But Barry Josephson, thinking like the out-of-the-box television professional that he was, pitched this idea.”

The host continued, “This is true, quote: ‘Make a true biographical experience with his stand-up being the capper. Somebody like Jon Stewart could host/narrate the biographical part.'”

To say Stewart was shocked by his name being dropped was an understatement. “Excuse me? I am offended! Somebody *like* Jon Stewart, or Jon Stewart?!” he exclaimed. “My point is, do I have the offer, or is this an audition?”

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The Department of Justice released more than three million documents related to the late sex offender on Jan. 30 as part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. They include thousands of references to President Donald Trump and also mention other individuals like Allen, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Stewart joked that Musk has been “crashing out” ever since the latest files dropped. “He’s posted about the Epstein files more than 85 times over the last two days,” he said. “Oddly enough, mostly on Bluesky. No, I’m just kidding.”

When it came to Trump, Stewart claimed that the Department of Justice was attempting to protect the 79-year-old. “Look man, we always knew that the people at DOJ releasing these documents weren’t on a fact-finding mission, they were running interference,” he said. “And the guy they’re running interference for seems very satisfied with these results.”

He then cut to footage of Trump speaking with reporters while aboard Air Force One on Jan. 31, during which the politician claimed that the files had "absolve[d] me" of any crimes. Trump has previously denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes related to Epstein.**** “None of these dudes. They’ve been on the plane. They’ve been on the island. They've been to his house. They've given him creepy cards with pubic hair," Stewart said, referring to Trump's alleged birthday note to Epstein. "They've been accused by a multitude of women of a multitude of wrongdoings, and nothing has happened to any of them."

Watch Stewart discuss the Epstein files in the clip above.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Talk”