US Vice President JD Vance. Photo: Reuters
US Vice President JD Vance has stated that the late, notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein maintained connections with Israeli intelligence agencies, although the specific nature of those ties remains unknown.
In a lengthy interview with influential US podcaster Joe Rogan, released yesterday (Wednesday), Vance was asked for his views on theories suggesting a possible link between Epstein and the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad.
In response, Vance noted that Epstein had clear connections with the highest echelons of US intelligence agencies. Similarly, he maintained distinct ties with the top levels of Israeli intelligence.
The Vice President further claimed that the political leanings of Epstein’s contacts in Israel appeared to be left-leaning.
JD Vance said, “It seemed Epstein was connected to segments of Israel’s ‘deep state’—influential groups within the state apparatus—that leaned to the left. I always found that quite striking. It wasn’t as if he had strong connections with the right-wing factions of Israeli politics.”
During the interview, Vance also acknowledged that the Trump administration handled the publicity and communications regarding the Epstein files “completely” wrong.
Vance was primarily referring to former Attorney General Pam Bondi. Bondi had claimed that a list of individuals—those with close ties to Epstein or who frequented his properties—was “sitting on my desk right now.”
President Trump dismissed Bondi last April. At that time, the Department of Justice under her leadership had released certain documents to specific conservative commentators and influencers. They were titled ‘The Epstein Files: Phase 1’ and ‘Declassified’ (Released).
Vice President Vance told podcaster Rogan, “I know Pam Bondi. I like her. I don’t think there was any malicious intent behind it. I believe Bondi was trying to react based on the political climate at the time. I suspect she overstated what we actually had and what we didn’t.”
Vance noted that Bondi faced intense public criticism for her comments. This led to a sense of public “distrust” regarding the administration’s efforts at transparency in releasing the Epstein files.
The Vice President said, “We completely botched the communications regarding the Epstein files. We really did. But do I think this mix-up happened because we were trying to hide something? No, that’s not it.”
