Vice President JD Vance has denied reports that he planned to host a strategy meeting at his residence on Wednesday evening to discuss the Trump administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Multiple news outlets reported that the gathering was intended to coordinate a unified response regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding the disgraced financier’s case.
The meeting was reportedly scheduled to include Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, the administration’s handling of the Epstein files and the need to craft a coordinated response was expected to be the main focus of the dinner.
William Martin, Vance’s communications director, issued a statement Wednesday afternoon denying the reports. “The CNN story is pure fiction. There was never a supposed meeting scheduled at the Vice President’s residence to discuss Epstein Strategy,” Martin indicated in response to the initial reporting.
During a White House event on Wednesday afternoon, Vance addressed reporters directly about the allegations. The Vice President characterized the reporting as completely fabricated and suggested the reporter responsible should obtain better sources. President Donald Trump, who was present during the exchange, dismissed the entire matter as a hoax orchestrated by Democrats to divert attention from what he described as the administration’s successful first six months.
Trump used profanity when characterizing the reports, calling the allegations “total bullshit” during the White House briefing. The President suggested the story was an attempt to undermine his administration’s accomplishments and redirect public focus to what he deemed fabricated controversy.
The reported meeting comes amid ongoing discussions within the administration about whether to release audio recordings and transcripts of Blanche’s recent interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Blanche conducted a nine-hour interview with Maxwell at the end of July, and administration officials indicated Tuesday that recordings and transcripts could be made public as soon as this week.
According to sources familiar with Maxwell’s statements during the interview, she told Blanche that Trump had never done anything concerning in her presence and that she had not witnessed any behavior that would have caused alarm. The interview materials reportedly contain over 10 hours of audio that would require digitization, transcription, and redaction before any potential public release.
Internal discussions have also reportedly included the possibility of Blanche holding a press conference or conducting a high-profile interview, potentially with podcaster Joe Rogan. Rogan, who endorsed Trump during the 2024 election after hosting him on his podcast, has been highly critical of the administration’s handling of the Epstein files and previously called their refusal to release more information a “line in the sand.”
The controversy has intensified following Maxwell’s recent transfer to a lower-security federal prison facility in Bryan, Texas. Trump claimed he was unaware of the decision to move Maxwell, stating he learned about it through media reports rather than official briefings. The transfer occurred shortly after her interview with Blanche, prompting additional speculation about the timing and rationale for the move.
Maxwell’s legal team has opposed efforts to unseal grand jury testimony in her case, with her attorney arguing that releasing such information would cause severe and irreversible harm to her reputation. She is also attempting to appeal her sentence at the Supreme Court level.
The family of Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers who died by suicide earlier this year, issued a statement Wednesday morning criticizing the reported meeting’s guest list. Giuffre’s siblings noted that no survivors of Epstein’s crimes were invited to participate in the discussions, emphasizing that victims’ voices should be heard above all others in any deliberations about the case.
Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee issued nearly a dozen subpoenas Tuesday to the Justice Department and various political figures for files and information related to Epstein. The committee’s actions represent a significant challenge to Republican leadership’s handling of the case.
Federal Judge Richard Berman has given the Trump administration until 12 p.m. Friday to respond to filings made by Epstein victims and their families regarding the potential unsealing of grand jury testimony and exhibits. The judge specifically requested the government’s position on unsealing exhibits and information about how much material has already been made public.
