A social media post from 2021 by current US Vice President JD Vance has suddenly gone viral again. The reason? Its timing coincides with the release of a massive trove of documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Viral Question Resurfaces
In the now-viral tweet from 2021, Vance posed a direct question: “What possible interest would the US government have in keeping Epstein’s clients secret?” This post on X, formerly Twitter, has gained fresh traction this week. Its resurgence comes just as the House Oversight Committee made public thousands of pages of newly released Epstein files.
The release includes a large collection of legal documents, photographs, and personal correspondence connected to Epstein and his network of wealthy and influential associates. While the documents feature images of prominent figures and their communications with Epstein, a significant portion remains heavily edited. Many pages are covered in redactions, and some lack clear context or dates.
Political Reactions and Accusations
The viral post did not go unnoticed by US lawmakers. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna responded directly to Vance's question. He pointed a finger at the current administration's handling of the documents, writing: “Great question, JD Vance. Have you asked Attorney General Pam Bondi? She is brazenly breaking the law Rep Thomas Massie and I led and insulting MAGA voters' intelligence with excessive redactions and concealment.”
Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican, also joined the online conversation with a pointed remark: “I miss this version of JD Vance.” Both Khanna and Massie played instrumental roles in pressuring the Justice Department to release these long-withheld materials. They leveraged the public's demand for transparency and accountability in the investigation into Epstein's extensive network.
Vance's Defence and the Social Media Storm
In the current climate, Vice President JD Vance has publicly defended the Trump administration's approach to the Epstein case. He has stated there is “nothing to hide” and claimed that former President Donald Trump instructed the Justice Department to release all pertinent information. Vance has simultaneously criticised previous Democratic administrations, particularly President Joe Biden's, for what he describes as a failure to act on Epstein's activities. He has also questioned why mainstream media outlets have only recently become active on the story.
The response on social media to the resurfacing of Vance's old tweet has been largely sarcastic and critical. Users flooded the post with comments like, “Damn, this post didn't age well,” and “You’re not gonna believe this.” Others asked for updates with queries such as “So? What happened bro?” and “any updates on this, champ,” while one user ominously noted, “Hey man, it’s not looking so good right now.”
The public and congressional review of these documents is now underway, fueled by years of pressure for disclosure and heightened by the unexpected return of a politician's old social media query to the spotlight.
