During a press conference in Canton, Ohio, Vice President Vance addressed questions regarding the Trump administration’s handling of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The remarks came amid an event promoting the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

Vance sought to reassure the public about transparency efforts, emphasizing that the administration was not withholding information. “The president has been very clear. We’re not shielding anything,” Vance told reporters. “He’s been incredibly transparent about that material, but some of it naturally takes time to process and release.”

Earlier reports from The Hill suggested that Epstein-related controversy placed Vance in a politically sensitive position, particularly given some of his prior comments on Epstein. The uproar intensified following the release of a memo from the FBI and the Department of Justice, which reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide. Sources indicated that Vance played a quiet but crucial role behind the scenes as a mediator between Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, after Bongino reportedly threatened resignation when the memo became public. Beyond this mediation, Vance largely remained out of the spotlight as the administration managed the situation.

In the weeks since, the controversy within MAGA circles has begun to subside. Simultaneously, major outlets such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal published examinations of former President Trump’s past interactions with Epstein. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in connection with the financier.

Importantly, these reports did not accuse Trump of engaging in any illegal activity involving minors. Instead, they largely centered on the broader context of his social association with Epstein, which has been previously documented. Vance and other Trump allies have characterized some of these media narratives as attempts to insinuate misconduct through implication rather than presenting evidence of actual criminal behavior.

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Media Attention and Political Timing

Speaking in Ohio, Vance argued that Democrats and left-leaning media outlets are only now raising the issue because they perceive it as politically advantageous. “For four years, under the Biden Department of Justice, the media paid no attention to the Epstein files or case,” he said. He further criticized both the Bush and Obama administrations for not conducting thorough investigations.

Vance reaffirmed that Trump has no undisclosed connections to Epstein-related crimes. “Donald J. Trump, I’m telling you, he’s got nothing to hide,” Vance said.

A key piece of evidence cited by Trump supporters is the resurfaced testimony of the late Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims. Portions of Giuffre’s testimony contradict claims made by Democrats that Trump was personally involved in Epstein’s illegal activities. In the testimony, Giuffre stated she never observed any interaction between Trump and Epstein in which Trump engaged in illegal sexual behavior. She also indicated that Trump did not visit Epstein’s residences in New York, New Mexico, or the notorious private island associated with Epstein’s abuse of minors.

This testimony has been highlighted by Trump allies as evidence that recent media narratives and political attacks are largely built on insinuation, rather than verified facts.

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Continuing Legal Efforts

Despite the resurfaced testimony, the Trump administration continues to navigate ongoing public scrutiny and legal requests related to Epstein. On Tuesday, the administration pressed two federal judges to unseal grand jury testimony tied to the indictments of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite charged with sex trafficking. These efforts reflect the administration’s stated commitment to transparency while balancing concerns about sensitive material and ongoing legal protocols.

Vance emphasized that media pressure and political narratives should not overshadow the administration’s position on openness and due process. According to his statements, the release of such sensitive documents is being carefully managed to ensure that legal and procedural standards are met, rather than to serve any political agenda.

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Moving Forward

While the Epstein files and associated media coverage have sparked debate and political tension, the Vice President’s statements aimed to shift focus toward legal process and procedural fairness. Vance’s message underscored that the Trump administration’s handling of these sensitive files is not intended to obscure facts, but to comply with established legal safeguards, while also addressing public concern about accountability and transparency.

As legal proceedings and document releases continue, Trump allies maintain that the political storm surrounding Epstein-related documents is being used selectively to target the former president, even as earlier administrations reportedly received similar materials without significant public scrutiny.