In Canton, Ohio, Vice President JD Vance recently defended President Donald Trump's transparency regarding the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Vance criticized previous administrations for their failure to thoroughly investigate Jeffrey Epstein, praising Trump's efforts for transparency, the New York Post reported.
The event on Monday became a platform for Vance to address criticisms about how the Epstein case has been handled under the Trump administration.
Vance expressed his dissatisfaction with the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, accusing them of neglectfulness and opacity regarding Epstein. He claimed, "For 20 years, you had Obama and George W. Bush’s Department of Justice go easy on this guy."
He further noted that President Trump has instructed the Attorney General to actively release all credible information about Epstein's case to the public, ensuring nothing is shielded.
This move, according to Vance, demonstrated a significant shift towards transparency compared to previous administrations.
Jeffrey Epstein's history came under scrutiny again after he was found dead in his jail cell on August 10, 2019, where he awaited trial for sex trafficking charges. A recent Justice Department and FBI memo affirmed that Epstein killed himself.
The Trump administration has also emphasized protecting the identities of Epstein’s victims in any disclosures, underlining their commitment to victim privacy and transparency in handling the case.
The plea deal Epstein received in 2007, facilitated by Alex Acosta, then a U.S. Attorney in Miami, came under harsh criticism, leading to Acosta's resignation in July 2019 from his role as Labor Secretary.
Recent legal decisions include a Florida federal judge's denial of a DOJ request to release grand jury testimony from the pre-2007 plea deal investigation involving Epstein.
Moreover, Ghislaine Maxwell, identified as an accomplice of Epstein, was interrogated over two days by Justice Department officials in Tallahassee, pointing to continued efforts to uncover more about the case.
The administration's proactive steps reflect Vance's assertion that transparency is paramount, yet he acknowledges, "Some of that stuff takes time."
Vance robustly countered critics of Trump's handling of the Epstein situation, emphasizing Trump's directive for complete transparency. He stated, "Donald J. Trump, I’m telling you, he's got nothing to hide."
Adding to his defense, Vance argued that criticisms should instead be directed towards previous administrations for their lack of action and transparency over the past 20 years.
Vance concluded by urging the public to scrutinize those who failed to take meaningful action against Epstein and protect transparency during their terms.
