‘Not even a possibility’: Joe Rogan escapes Epstein files, reputation intact — a simple Google search saved him

On a February 10, 2026, episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan addressed the recent appearance of his name in the newly released Jeffrey Epstein files, in discussion with his guest, Cheryl Hines.

In the episode, Rogan clarified that he’s mentioned, but not because of wrongdoing. Rogan said he appears in the files solely because he declined when offered to meet Epstein. “I’m in the files for not going because Jeffrey Epstein was trying to meet with me,” Rogan told Hines, adding that he was immediately put off when he learned of the suggested meeting. Meeting Epstein was never a possibility, Rogan said, “especially after I Googled him.”

Lawrence Krauss wanted Rogan and Epstein to meet

The mention in the documents stemmed from correspondence involving physicist Lawrence Krauss, who had appeared on Rogan’s show and subsequently exchanged emails with Epstein. In those emails, Epstein asked Krauss to introduce him to Rogan, describing the podcaster as “funny.” Rogan’s reaction, as he recounted to Hines, was “B—ch, are you high? What are you talking about?”

While speaking with Hines, Rogan also lambasted the FBI and Department of Justice’s findings that Epstein “wasn’t running a sex‑trafficking ring for powerful men,” calling it “the gaslightiest gaslighting s—t I’ve ever heard in my life.”

The Rogan reaction

Social media reactions have largely painted Rogan as one of the few public figures to emerge from the Epstein disclosures with his reputation intact. One commenter wrote, “Joe is about the only person to come out of the Epstein files with any credit. It shows not everyone felt the need to meet Epstein. Everyone else more or less says they just met him because that’s what everyone did, which is clearly BS!”

Another highlighted the significance of Rogan’s specific reason for being in the files: “Rogan being in the files specifically because he declined the meeting is actually important context. It shows how aggressively Epstein was recruiting people and how wide the net was cast. The ones who said no are just as revealing as the ones who said yes.”

But as far as social media response, Hines didn’t escape unscathed, as many noted Hines’ husband, the Trump administration’s HHS Secretary RFK Jr., is in the files for a lot more than declining a meeting.

With no suggestion of wrongdoing, RFK Jr. spent time with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, including a 2012 fossil‑hunting trip in the Dakotas and flights on Epstein’s private jet in the 1990s, which Kennedy has previously acknowledged.

Other comments note, “Smash cut to RFK JR. saying: Yeah I hung out with Epstein and flew on his jet.” Another added, “Of course brave Joe Rogan would never say, but wasn’t YOUR HUSBAND mentioned in the emails: hunting for fossils in the desert, flying on his plane… ?”