JD Vance Faces Skewering in Home State With His Own Words On Epstein Files: 'Your Silence Has Been Pretty Deafening'

A Democratic lawmaker is preparing to skewer Vice President JD Vance in his home state over the handling of the files on Jeffrey Epstein, using his own words against him.

California Rep. Ro Khanna will be revisiting Vance's own calls for investigations into the Epstein case during his appearance at the Democratic Mayors Association summit in Cleveland Friday, according to a copy of Khanna's statements shared with Politico's Playbook.

"You may have forgotten what you said, but folks back in Ohio remember. Let me refresh your recollection. On Sept. 4, 2021, while running for Senate, you said: 'Remember when we learned that our wealthiest and most powerful people were connected to a guy who ran a literal child sex trafficking ring? And then that guy died mysteriously in a jail? And now we just don't talk about it?' ... Now, your silence has been pretty deafening," the representative's remarks read.

Khanna then plans to go on to mention the vice president's appearance on comedian Theo Von's podcast "This Past Weekend," where Von proclaimed the Trump administration should "release the list," referring to Epstein's alleged client list.

At the time, Vance responded, "Seriously, we need to release the Epstein list. That is an important thing."

"So Mr. Vice President, are you going to be true to your word and support Rep. [Thomas] Massie (R-Ky.) and my bipartisan bill to release these files?" Khanna's statement continued.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Khanna joined forces to introduce a discharge petition to release of the Epstein files, however the House was shut down early last week to block such a vote. The resolution would require at least 218 signatures before the House returns in the fall, requiring some Republicans to join with Massie and Khanna, NBC News reported.

The Trump administration has faced continued pressure from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for more transparency in regards to the Epstein files after a memo by the Department of Justice and FBI declared that the sex offender killed himself and had no client list.

The report triggered intense backlash across bipartisan lines, including from MAGA influencers and Trump supporters. President Donald Trump has pushed for his supporters to move on from the files, but later called for the DOJ to release any approved grand jury testimony after the Wall Street Journal published a report alleging Trump gave Epstein a drawing of a naked woman in a birthday message.