WASHINGTON (BN24) — Vice President JD Vance is facing renewed scrutiny over his past claims about the death of Jeffrey Epstein, as a series of old social media posts resurfaced just as his own administration declared the high-profile case closed.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender, was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His connections to wealthy and influential figures, including President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton and tech billionaire Bill Gates, have fueled persistent conspiracy theories about a hidden “client list” and possible blackmail operations.
Vance, who was serving as a U.S. senator at the time, repeatedly called for aggressive investigation into Epstein’s death. In a 2021 post on X, he wrote, “Remember when we learned that our wealthiest and most powerful people were connected to a guy who ran a literal child sex trafficking ring? And then that guy died mysteriously in jail? And now we just don’t talk about it.”
At the time, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino publicly suggested Epstein had been murdered to protect powerful interests. Both men later reversed their position after joining Trump’s White House, saying they believed Epstein died by suicide.
Vance himself had questioned whether federal agencies were deliberately shielding Epstein’s associates. “What possible interest would the US government have in keeping Epstein’s clients secret? Oh…,” he posted on X. In another post, he criticized the media, writing, “If you’re a journalist and you’re not asking questions about this case you should be ashamed of yourself.”
On Sunday, the Justice Department announced it had concluded the investigation without uncovering evidence of the alleged incriminating client list. The agency also released 10 hours of surveillance video showing no one entering Epstein’s cell the day he died, findings that align with prior reports that he took his own life. Authorities noted the video was missing one minute of footage.
The disclosure has revived criticism from conservatives who accuse Patel and Bongino of abandoning their earlier statements. Vance has also faced backlash online for his silence since the Justice Department’s findings were published.
Attorney General Pam Bondi added to the confusion in February by stating that the “list” was “sitting on my desk right now to review.” But on Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that Bondi was referring to case files, not a verified roster of Epstein’s alleged clients.
The episode also drew the attention of Elon Musk, who in June claimed that Trump “is in the Epstein files,” a remark that appeared to strain his relationship with the president.
During an October appearance on comedian Theo Von’s podcast, Vance again pressed for the release of any records that could shed light on Epstein’s connections. “Seriously, we need to release the Epstein list,” he said. “That is an important thing.”
Vance has not commented publicly on the Justice Department’s final report.
Huffpost
