Vance: "We did" mishandle Epstein files release
Axios · LC · trust 49/100
Add Axios on Google Vice President JD Vance speaks in Milwaukee, last week. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Vice President 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 Epstein files release became a major political liability .
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 Rogan on the episode that premiered Wednesday.
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.
Context: Vance's comments come after the Trump administration faced criticism from many Americans, including his MAGA base , over the handling of the documents last year.
Go deeper: New Mexico AG, federal DOJ clash over Epstein records
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