'Growing tensions' in GOP as Vance and Trump take different lines on Epstein files release
The GOP is facing a rise in tensions over the pending release of Jeffrey Epstein's files, with the president and vice president taking different stances.
While Donald Trump has denied anything in the files has tied him to any wrongdoing and says that the country should move on, JD Vance has suggested Prince Andrew, a member of the UK's Royal Family mentioned in the files, should testify before Congress. Speaking to the Daily Mail earlier this week, Vance said he would be "certainly open to" testimony from Prince Andrew.
Trump, however, has said the country must move on to other issues such as health care, Axios reported. He told reporters from the Oval Office, "Nothing came out about me other than it was a conspiracy against me, literally, by Epstein and other people. But I think it’s time now for the country to maybe get on to something else like health care or something that people care about."
Trump remained unmoved when two names from his administration, former Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk and current Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik, were brought up.
He said, "You mentioned two names. I'm sure they're fine. Otherwise it would have been major headlines." Trump also suggested he had never been "friendly" with Epstein.
Vance, on the other hand, has ripped into those featured in Epstein's emails and archives. He said, "I think that it just shows there's an incestuous nature to America's elites, and it's pretty gross. And, a lot of people, I think, it reflects very poorly on them. Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, a lot of others."
Even though Trump is mentioned in the files, Vance does not believe the president is part of that circle. He said, "President Trump is very much outside of the social circle.
"He knows a lot of these people. He certainly has similar wealth and power. But he never really was friendly with Epstein in a way that a lot of these other people were."
Despite the newly unearthed allegations, Trump isn't facing any criminal charges related to his past relationship with Epstein, and has denied any and all wrongdoing.