JD Vance admits Trump admin 'screwed up' Epstein files rollout, says Bondi 'overstated' disclosures

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that the Trump administration mishandled the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, conceding that the rollout of heavily redacted records, with many names withheld, undermined public trust after expectations for major revelations had been raised.

Speaking on 'The Joe Rogan Experience,' Vance said the controversy stemmed from poor messaging rather than an attempt to hide information.

His remarks were among the clearest acknowledgments by a senior Trump administration official that the handling of the Epstein files fueled criticism over delayed releases and limited disclosures.

JD Vance acknowledges Epstein files rollout mistakes

Reflecting on the controversy, Vance said the administration mishandled how it communicated the release of the Epstein files, particularly after former Attorney General Pam Bondi suggested significant disclosures were imminent.

“I say this with all candor, like we absolutely screwed up the comms of the Epstein files, like we just did,” Vance said. “But do I think the reason we screwed up the comms is because we were trying to hide something? No.”

Vance said Bondi had created expectations that ultimately proved difficult to meet. “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 said.

Bondi had previously said the Epstein files were "sitting on my desk right now" for review and later distributed The Epstein Files: Phase 1 binders to conservative commentators. The eventual release contained heavily redacted records, prompting criticism from those who had expected broader disclosures.

Vance said the administration should have prioritized releasing the material much earlier while completing the necessary legal review.

"I think that we should have just dropped everything at the very beginning," he said. "Obviously it takes a little time to review the stuff … to redact things where you have victims and so forth, but we should have just done it as quickly as possible."

JD Vance defends Epstein files redactions

Vance also defended portions of the redaction process, arguing that investigators faced complicated legal and factual questions while reviewing thousands of pages of records tied to Epstein's case.

According to Vance, one of the biggest challenges was determining whether individuals referenced in the files were solely victims or had also participated in criminal conduct.

"One of the things that's complicated about the Epstein case is you have victims, you have people who were maybe victimized but also participated in victimizing others," Vance said. "It's actually not always clear from the records who's who."

He suggested those distinctions made it more difficult to quickly release investigative material while protecting victims' identities and ensuring the records were properly reviewed before publication.

Epstein was arrested on federal charges in 2019 related to the exploitation of underage girls before dying in jail later that year.

The criminal case against him was dismissed following his death, while longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell remains the only person convicted in connection with the federal investigation.