WASHINGTON — The Trump administration faced renewed scrutiny on Thursday over its handling of government files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as senior officials defended the Justice Department's actions while acknowledging that the administration's public messaging had contributed to confusion.
Vice President JD Vance said the administration had "absolutely" mishandled its communications surrounding the release of Epstein-related records, while maintaining that the issue reflected messaging failures rather than an effort to conceal information. Speaking on a podcast released this week, Vance said officials should have communicated more clearly about what records existed and what could legally be disclosed.
The latest criticism comes as the Justice Department continues to face bipartisan questions over its implementation of legislation requiring the release of Epstein-related files. Members of Congress from both parties have raised concerns about the pace of disclosures, the extent of redactions and instances in which identifying information relating to victims was inadvertently released.
Justice Department officials have defended their approach, saying federal law, court orders and privacy protections limit what can be released publicly. The department has argued that some records remain protected because they contain sensitive information involving victims, witnesses or ongoing legal obligations.
Separately, Acting Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche faced questioning during his Senate confirmation hearing over the department's handling of the Epstein files. Lawmakers from both parties cited criticism of the document release as they examined Blanche's record and his commitment to the department's independence.
Blanche acknowledged mistakes in the release process, including disclosures that exposed some victims, but said he would support pursuing additional prosecutions related to Epstein if warranted by the evidence. He rejected suggestions that he would simply carry out President Donald Trump's wishes without independent legal judgment.
The administration has also been involved in ongoing litigation over the records. Earlier this month, the Justice Department asked a federal court not to require the release of additional unredacted documents, arguing that existing redactions comply with legal requirements protecting victims and other sensitive information.
Congress mandated the disclosure of large volumes of Epstein-related records after years of public and political pressure. Millions of pages have since been released, but lawmakers, journalists and advocacy groups continue to press for greater transparency while balancing privacy protections for victims. A bipartisan request has also prompted the Government Accountability Office to review the Justice Department's handling of the disclosures.
