The latest release of Jeffrey Epstein files has highlighted a subtle but noticeable difference in how President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are approaching the ongoing controversy.
Last week, the Justice Department released more than 3 million additional pages of documents, along with thousands of photos, emails, flight logs, videos, and other materials from its investigation into the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. These files mention several high-profile figures, including Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Elon Musk, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and former Prince Andrew. No one named in the latest batch has faced new accusations of criminal wrongdoing, but the mentions have renewed public scrutiny of their past connections to Epstein.
Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, made it clear he wants the country to move past the issue. He said he hadn’t personally read the new files but claimed they absolve him, describing past scrutiny as part of a “conspiracy” against him by Epstein and others. “I think it’s really time for the country to get onto something else,” Trump stated, repeating the point and suggesting the nation focus on priorities like health care instead. He also dismissed mentions of Musk and Lutnick in the documents, saying, “I’m sure they’re fine.”
In contrast, Vice President JD Vance appeared more open to further examination of specific allegations raised by the files. Speaking to the Daily Mail on the same day, Vance expressed willingness to see former Prince Andrew testify before Congress about his ties to Epstein. Vance noted that U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer had suggested Andrew should answer questions, and he said he would be “certainly open to” such testimony—though he emphasized it would be up to Congress to decide. This stance signals a potential interest in pursuing accountability for certain claims in the documents, particularly those involving the former royal.
The divergence comes amid broader criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files. Trump initially resisted full public disclosure but later reversed course in November 2025, urging Republicans to pass—and then signing—the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the Justice Department to release the materials (with some redactions for victim privacy or ongoing investigations).
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on Sunday that the department’s review was complete after examining over 6 million pages, thousands of videos, and tens of thousands of images. However, some lawmakers, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), argue that not all documents have been released, claiming only about half have been made public and pushing for unredacted access. The Justice Department has removed several thousand items due to potential accidental inclusion of victim-identifying information, citing technical or human errors.
The Epstein case has been a persistent challenge during Trump’s second term, drawing criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans over transparency and the investigation into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. While the latest files have not produced major new revelations of wrongdoing against prominent individuals, they keep questions alive about Epstein’s network and the government’s response.
Trump’s call to move on reflects a desire to shift focus to other national issues, while Vance’s comments suggest at least some openness to congressional follow-up on specific leads. Whether this difference leads to further action in Congress remains to be seen.