Turns out the Trump administration really did huddle behind closed doors to talk about the Jeffrey Epstein files, despite JD Vance’s public denial.
On Wednesday, the vice president dismissed mounting media reports claiming he was hosting secret Epstein talks at his house.
“It’s completely fake news,” Vance declared. President Donald Trump had told reporters, “I don’t know” and redirected them to the vice president.
ADVERTISEMENT
Yet, top Trump administration officials did convene to map out next steps regarding the files on the late convicted sex offender, CNN reported, citing a source familiar with the logistics.
The meeting was reportedly relocated from Vance’s D.C. home to the White House. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel were also in attendance, according to MSNBC.
It’s unclear whether the talks included Vance, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who were initially reported to be joining the dinner at the vice president’s Naval Observatory mansion.
Vance’s supposed involvement in the talks had drawn criticism. Ever since Watergate, the Justice Department has kept criminal investigations separate from White House influence, to prevent any appearance of political interference.
The meeting’s last-minute relocation, MSNBC legal correspondent Lisa Rubin suggested, was designed to throw off watchful eyes.
“Everybody in Washington was looking to the vice president’s residence, to see who was going to gather there. Certainly, they diverted our attention from there,” she said.
The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.
Among the issues discussed were the Epstein saga, which Trump on Wednesday called “total bulls--t,” and strategies for moving forward, according to the CNN source.
The administration appears to be seeking ways to quell MAGA outrage over its handling of the Epstein files, and to redirect attention from the growing spotlight on Trump’s past friendship with the disgraced financier.
One tactic the administration has considered, as it looks for ways to deflect scrutiny, is releasing an audio recording and transcript from Blanche’s interview with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, CNN previously reported, citing two administration officials. Another involved getting Blanche into an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, according to the report.
Trump on Tuesday insisted he “didn’t talk to” Blanche about his meeting with Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring to recruit and abuse young girls.
“I didn’t talk to him about it but I will tell you that whatever he asked would be totally appropriate,” Trump said, before adding Blanche “probably wants to make sure that, you know, people that should not be involved or aren’t involved are not hurt by something that would be very, very unfortunate, very unfair to a lot of people.”
