Liberal comedian and HBO host Bill Maher is signaling a rare moment of reconsideration after the release of Department of Justice documents tied to convicted child sex predator Jeffrey Epstein, conceding that some claims he once dismissed may not have been as far-fetched as he previously suggested.
Maher made the comments during an appearance this week on Stephen A. Smith’s Straight Shooter, where the longtime critic of conspiracy theories reflected on newly released Epstein-related materials. The documents, released by the DOJ, include photos and communications connected to the late billionaire financier, whose arrest and death exposed disturbing questions about power, privilege, and sexual exploitation at the highest levels of society.
As the files have surfaced, a wide range of prominent figures have seen their names appear in various contexts, including former President Bill Clinton, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and President Donald Trump. The documents have renewed public scrutiny of Epstein’s extensive network and the culture of silence that surrounded him for years.
Maher acknowledged that he had spent years ridiculing the far-right QAnon movement, particularly its claims that powerful elites were involved in a secret pedophile ring. Those theories were often lumped together with more outlandish assertions, and Maher admitted he was quick to mock them. But in light of the recent disclosures, he suggested that at least one element of those claims now appears less dismissible.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Maher told Smith, before asking rhetorically where QAnon might go to collect an apology. While emphasizing that the movement has promoted many “really ridiculous things,” including extreme and baseless accusations, Maher said QAnon had consistently focused on the idea that elites were protecting one another while engaging in sexual abuse. That, he suggested, now appears to have more substance than he was willing to admit in the past.
Maher said he had previously joked that while there may have been “smoke” around Epstein, the new material released in recent weeks points to something far more serious. What stood out to him most, he explained, was the apparent lack of caution among Epstein and his associates when discussing their behavior.
In one of his more pointed remarks, Maher joked that he had been more careful buying marijuana when it was illegal than Epstein and others seemed to be when discussing what Maher described as their sexual perversions. He expressed shock at seeing names emerge that he said he never imagined would be associated with such conduct, noting that the emails and communications appeared to show individuals openly discussing disturbing behavior.
While Maher stopped well short of endorsing QAnon as a whole, he conceded that the movement’s focus on elite wrongdoing was not entirely misplaced. “A lot of crazy there,” he said, before adding, “but you know what? You weren’t totally wrong.”
The comments mark an unusual departure for Maher, who has long positioned himself as a critic of both conservative politics and populist skepticism toward powerful institutions. His remarks also reflect a broader reckoning as the Epstein scandal continues to raise uncomfortable questions about accountability, transparency, and whether the nation’s elites are truly subject to the same standards as everyone else.
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