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JD Vance Says Jeffrey Epstein Had "Clear Connections" to Mossad
Vice President JD Vance has reignited debate over the Jeffrey Epstein case after suggesting the convicted sex offender likely had connections to intelligence agencies, while also acknowledging that the Trump administration mishandled its communication surrounding the release of Epstein-related files.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Cierra Middleton
The Jeffrey Epstein case is back in the spotlight.
This time, the comments came from the vice president.
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During a nearly three-hour appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, released on July 16, Vice President JD Vance said he believes Jeffrey Epstein had connections to high-level intelligence circles, mentioning Mossad, the CIA, or what he described as another "deep state" entity. He emphasized, however, that he could not prove those claims.
Vance said Epstein "clearly had connections to the highest levels" of American and Israeli intelligence but acknowledged there is no evidence publicly available confirming the nature of those relationships. He added that if a broader conspiracy existed, he believes the best opportunity to uncover it would have been during the federal investigation that began in 2007.
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Vance drew a distinction between his personal beliefs and verifiable evidence.
"I'll believe there's a story behind it until the last day of my life," he said, before adding that he could not prove it.
The vice president also defended President Donald Trump against suggestions that the president had been compromised or blackmailed in connection with the Epstein investigation.
"The idea that Donald Trump was being blackmailed seems crazy to me," Vance said, arguing that such a scenario did not fit Trump's decision-making style.
Vance did, however, concede that the administration mishandled its public messaging around the release of Epstein-related records.
"If people want to say we mishandled the Epstein release, guilty," he said. "We did mishandle it, especially the communications of it." He added that, in his view, the documents should have been released more quickly after appropriate reviews to protect victims' identities.
The interview also turned to foreign policy.
Vance said he believes some elements within the Israeli government attempted to influence American public opinion against the Trump administration's diplomatic efforts with Iran. He referenced a recent Time magazine report discussing a lobbying and influencer campaign related to the negotiations, while stressing that foreign governments routinely attempt to influence U.S. policy.
Reuters reported that the Israeli Prime Minister's Office declined to comment on Vance's remarks regarding the alleged influence campaign.
The Epstein case has remained the subject of extensive public scrutiny for years.
While thousands of pages of court records and investigative materials have been released, no official investigation has concluded that Epstein worked for Mossad, the CIA, or any intelligence service. Vance's comments reflect his own views rather than findings established by publicly available evidence.
Editor's Note
The remarks made during the podcast represent Vice President JD Vance's personal views and comments. As of publication, no U.S. government investigation has publicly concluded that Jeffrey Epstein acted on behalf of any intelligence agency.
