Vice President JD Vance stated that the Trump administration mishandled the communication regarding the release of the Epstein files, acknowledging it as a public relations issue for the White House. During an appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, Vance referred to then-Attorney General Pam Bondi's management of the release of files from the Justice Department.
Vance admitted, "If people want to say we mishandled the Epstein release, guilty. We did mishandle it — especially the communications of it." He indicated that there were disagreements among top officials, including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, about how to approach the Epstein case, with Vance advocating for full transparency.
Wiles reportedly preferred a more cautious strategy, and Vance described her as a "major conspiracy theorist." In the podcast, Vance dismissed suggestions that the administration was attempting to conceal sensitive information about Epstein, although he implied connections between Epstein and U.S. and Israeli intelligence. He also commented on the political pressures that may have influenced Bondi's decisions during her tenure at the Justice Department, where she oversaw the release of Epstein-related files.
The controversy surrounding Bondi's handling of the files included criticism of a publicized release in February 2025, which was seen as lacking new information and led to concerns about redactions meant to protect underage victims. Trump dismissed Bondi from her position in April 2026. In the podcast, Vance addressed questions regarding the redaction of names in the files, noting that some individuals identified as victims were also alleged co-conspirators.