(The Hill) — Former Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday joined calls for the Trump administration to release more files in the case involving disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In an interview on CBS News’s “The Takeout,” Pence called for greater transparency out of the White House, while stressing the importance of protecting the names of victims involved.
“The time has come for the administration to release all of the files regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s investigation and prosecution,” he told host Major Garrett.
“It’s important that we protect the names of the victims,” he continued. “They should be excluded from any disclosure, but whether or not the facts justify charges, I think that anyone who participated or was associated with this despicable man ought to be held up to public scrutiny.
Pence added, “I just think we ought to get the facts to the American people. I mean, I’ve always believed in transparency.”
A number of prominent Trump supporters, including prominent members of Congress, have called for the administration to release more information related to the Epstein case.
Even some staunch allies of the president, like far-right activist Laura Loomer and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), have been critical of the administration’s handling of the files and called for a special counsel to investigate.
But Trump has consistently pushed back against the criticism and on Wednesday wrote a lengthy Truth Social post, in which he dismissed the uproar over the Epstein files as a “scam” perpetuated by Democrats and suggested he no longer welcomed his backers who have called for more transparency around the documents.
“Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bulls‑‑‑,’ hook, line, and sinker,” Trump posted. “They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.”
The Justice Department and FBI issued a joint memo last week that said Epstein did not have a client list and confirmed he died by suicide not due to foul play as many suspected in his New York City jail cell in 2019.
The findings incensed members of the MAGA movement, who have for years pushed conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death and claims that prominent Democrats would be named on a client list.
It also seemingly contradicts messaging from Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this year when she said the list is “on my desk” for review. Trump has praised Bondi for her work on the case in recent days and told his base to move on.
