‘We screwed up the comms’: JD Vance admits errors over Epstein files release

U.S. Senator JD Vance acknowledged that the Trump administration mishandled the communication surrounding the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, telling podcast host Joe Rogan, "we absolutely screwed up the comms."

The Department of Justice faced bipartisan criticism last year for repeatedly delaying the release of documents related to the convicted sex offender. The files have presented a significant political challenge for Donald Trump since the beginning of his second term.

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we absolutely screwed up the comms

In a lengthy interview released Wednesday, Vance suggested the administration should have released all documents from the outset. He referenced comments made by former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who stated the convicted sex offender's alleged "client list" was "sitting on my desk right now." Vance commented, "I know Pam. I like Pam. I don’t think there was anything malicious going on. I think Pam was trying to respond to the political moment. I think she overstated what we had and what we didn’t have."

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I know Pam. I like Pam. I don’t think there was anything malicious going on. I think Pam was trying to respond to the political moment. I think she overstated what we had and what we didn’t have.

Vance explained that Bondi's subsequent public "roasting" after offering conservative commentators binders of largely publicly available documents fueled mistrust in the administration's transparency efforts. "We absolutely screwed up the comms of the Epstein files. Like, we just did," Vance stated. "But do I think the reason we screwed up the comms is because we were trying to hide something? No."

Following months of controversy, lawmakers passed a measure compelling the government to release a substantial volume of documents concerning federal investigations into Epstein. In December, the Justice Department began releasing heavily redacted files, including photographs, call logs, grand jury testimony, and interview transcripts. However, the redactions and the department's failure to meet a release deadline drew criticism from both lawmakers and the public.

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We absolutely screwed up the comms of the Epstein files. Like, we just did. But do I think the reason we screwed up the comms is because we were trying to hide something? No.