Vance Critiques Trump Administration's Handling of Epstein Files
WHO:
CNN - Vice President JD Vance criticized the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
CNN - Pam Bondi was the Attorney General during the Trump administration.
CNN - Alex Acosta was a former US Attorney involved in the Epstein investigation.
WHAT:
CNN - Vance stated, “I say this with all candor, like we absolutely screwed up the comms of the Epstein files, like we just did.”
CNN - Vance claimed that the binders of information handed out to right-wing social media influencers in February 2025 were “largely documents that were already released.”
CNN - Vance acknowledged that it took longer than it should have for the administration to release the Epstein files, saying, “If people want to say we mishandled the Epstein release, guilty. We did mishandle it, especially the communications of it.”
CNN - Vance argued that the “original sin” of the Epstein investigation dated back to 2007 and 2008, stating it was “way too narrow.”
CNN - Vance stated that the Trump administration “absolutely screwed up the comms” around the Epstein files.
CNN - Vance mentioned that the administration should have released all information regarding the Epstein files immediately.
CNN - Vance referred to himself as “one of the OG Epstein conspiracy theorists.”
CNN - Vance claimed that the binders of information handed out to right-wing social media influencers in February 2025 were “largely documents that were already released.”
CNN - Vance acknowledged that it took longer than it should have for the administration to release the Epstein files.
WHERE:
CNN - The comments were made during an episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
WHY:
CNN - Vance suggested that Pam Bondi overstated what information was available, leading to public mistrust, saying, “I think she overstated what we had and what we didn’t have, and I think she got roasted for it publicly by a lot of people, including me.”
CNN - Vance argued that the original investigation into Epstein was “way too narrow” and faulted Acosta for negotiating a controversial plea deal.
CNN - Vance suggested that the mishandling of communications led to public mistrust regarding the Epstein files.
HOW:
CNN - Vance defended Trump’s role in releasing the Epstein files, stating that Trump “could have killed” the congressional effort to compel the Justice Department to release the files if he had wanted to.
CNN - Vance stated that the administration could have released the Epstein files quickly and without delay, indicating that they mishandled the communications surrounding the release.
(UPDATED July 16, 2026 10:35 UTC)
In a recent interview, Vance admitted that the administration mishandled the communications surrounding the release of the Epstein files, stating, “If people want to say we mishandled the Epstein release, guilty. We did mishandle it, especially the communications of it.” He also claimed that the binders of information given to right-wing social media influencers in February 2025 contained largely documents that had already been released, and he suggested that Pam Bondi overstated the available information, which contributed to public mistrust. Vance defended Trump’s involvement, asserting that the President could have halted the congressional push for the Justice Department to release the files if he had chosen to do so.
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(UPDATED July 16, 2026 01:23 UTC)
Vice President JD Vance criticized the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files during an episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” stating that they “absolutely screwed up the comms” and should have released all information immediately. He referred to himself as “one of the OG Epstein conspiracy theorists” and noted that the binders of information given to right-wing social media influencers in February 2025 contained largely documents that were already released. Vance also argued that the original investigation into Epstein was “way too narrow,” faulting former US Attorney Alex Acosta for negotiating a controversial plea deal, which he believes contributed to public mistrust regarding the Epstein files.