Key Takeaways
- US Vice President JD Vance claims Jeffrey Epstein had connections with high-level American and Israeli intelligence.
- Vance acknowledges the Trump administration mishandled its response to the Epstein case.
- He suggests some members of the Israeli government tried to influence US opinion on Iran deal.
US Vice President JD Vance has stated that late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had connections with both American and Israeli intelligence agencies, according to a podcast episode he participated in. During his conversation with host Joe Rogan, Vance elaborated on the extent of these alleged connections, emphasizing their significance.
Vance noted that Epstein seemed to be connected to 'the highest levels' of both American and Israeli intelligence, spanning across political affiliations. He stated, 'He clearly had connections to the upper, the highest levels of American intelligence. He clearly had connections to the highest levels of Israeli intelligence.'
The Vice President also highlighted his interest in Epstein's alleged associations with elements of the Israeli deep state that were left-of-centre, contrasting this with a lesser connection to right-of-centre politics.
Regarding the handling of the Epstein case by the Trump administration, Vance admitted mistakes. He stated, 'If people want to say we mishandled the Epstein release, guilty. We did mishandle, especially the communications of it.'
He further suggested that a more proactive approach could have been taken: 'I think that we should have just dropped everything at the very beginning; and obviously it takes a little time to review the stuff, to find the stuff, to redact things where you have victims and so forth. But we should have just done it as quickly as possible.'
The US Justice Department recently released over three million pages of documents related to Epstein's case under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law last November.
Vance’s comments echo earlier criticisms he has made regarding Israeli government policy and his potential future presidential candidacy. He also mentioned that some members of the Israeli government had tried to sway US public opinion against a deal by the US to end the war in Iran.
Epstein, who was found dead in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution. Critics argue that his conviction was too lenient given the severity of allegations against him.
He clearly had connections to the upper, the highest levels of American intelligence. He clearly had connections to the highest levels of Israeli intelligence.
JD Vance, US Vice President
I think that we should have just dropped everything at the very beginning; and obviously it takes a little time to review the stuff, to find 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, US Vice President
