Vance: "We did" mishandle Epstein files release
Axios
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Vice President https://www.axios.com/2026/07/06/vance-summer-trump-heir" target="_blank">JD Vance said the Trump administration "mishandled" last year's release of the Epstein files during an appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience."
Why it matters: Vance's comments are among the clearest public acknowledgments yet from the Trump administration that the https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/epstein-files" target="_blank">Epstein files release became a major https://www.axios.com/2025/11/13/trump-epstein-files-fiasco" target="_blank">political liability.
- Many noted at the time that the Epstein files release was done alongside https://www.axios.com/2025/11/13/trump-epstein-files-fiasco" target="_blank">clumsy messaging and https://x.com/mtracey/status/2003511463965786184" target="_blank">puzzling redactions — fueling sustained political pressure on President Trump and his administration.
Driving the news: "If people want to say we mishandled the Epstein release, guilty.
We did mishandle it — especially the communications of it," Vance told https://www.axios.com/2026/04/20/trump-woos-rogan-after-split" target="_blank">Rogan on the episode that premiered Wednesday.
- "We absolutely screwed up the comms of the Epstein files like we just did," he https://youtu.be/vtxyvD58eDg?si=NG-IwYhASOEpqVB7" target="_blank">said.
- Vance said then-Attorney General Pam Bondi's claim about having https://www.axios.com/2026/04/02/pam-bondi-epstein-files-trump" target="_blank">binders of documents on her desk made "people mistrust the entire effort" and added that she overstated "what we had and what we didn't have."
Zoom in: Vance told Rogan that the U.S. should have released the documents as quickly as possible, acknowledging that redactions to victims would require time.
- The vice president said the investigators "collected 6 million documents" — with about 3 million having "something to do with the Epstein estate."
- Vance accused Epstein of having deep connections to Israeli and American politics.
- "He clearly had connections to the highest levels of American intelligence.
He clearly had connections to the highest levels of Israeli intelligence."
Context: Vance's comments come after the Trump administration faced criticism from many Americans, including his https://www.axios.com/2025/07/10/trump-epstein-files-bondi-maga" target="_blank">MAGA base, over the handling of the documents last year.
- No other political issue created as much sustained political fallout for Trump and his administration last year like the files release, which inspired a revolt from https://www.axios.com/2025/07/15/trump-epstein-republicans-congress-bondi-bongino" target="_blank">congressional Republicans and social media commentary.
Go deeper: https://www.axios.com/2026/07/15/epstein-investigation-new-mexico-justice-department-us-doj" target="_blank">New Mexico AG, federal DOJ clash over Epstein records