The Steady Drip

Vance Says Admin 'Screwed Up' Epstein Files, Hits Israel (Connecting the Dots: Vice President JD Vance, Time magazine, Israel, CIA, Hillary Clinton, Jeffrey Epstein & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

By Newsmax Wires | Wednesday, 15 July 2026 09:23 PM EDT

Vice President JD Vance (AP)

https://www.newsmax.com/politics/jd-vance-pam-bondi-jeffrey-epstein/2026/07/15/id/1263012/

Vice President JD Vance acknowledged Wednesday that the Trump administration mishandled its public communications surrounding the release of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

He also made claims about Epstein's possible intelligence connections that he said were based on suspicion rather than publicly available evidence.

During an appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast, Vance said the administration's handling of the Epstein files created unrealistic public expectations and damaged confidence in its transparency.

"I say this with all candor, like we absolutely screwed up the comms of the Epstein files," Vance said. "But do I think the reason we screwed up the comms is because we were trying to hide something? No."

The vice president said the administration should have released the available records more quickly after conducting necessary reviews to protect victims' identities.

"I think that we should have just dropped everything at the very beginning," Vance said. "Obviously, it takes a little time to review the stuff ... to redact things where you have victims and so forth, but we should have just done it as quickly as possible."

Vance suggested then-Attorney General Pam Bondi inadvertently heightened expectations by implying that significant new information was imminent.

"I know Pam. I like Pam. I don't think there was anything malicious going on," Vance said.

"I think Pam was trying to respond to the political moment. I think she overstated what we had and what we didn't have."

Bondi had previously told Fox News that Epstein-related files were "sitting on my desk right now" for review and later participated in a White House event where conservative commentators received binders labeled "The Epstein Files: Phase 1."

Critics noted that many of the documents released at the time had already been made public in prior court proceedings.

During the nearly three-hour interview, Vance also commented on long-standing speculation regarding Epstein's possible intelligence ties.

The vice president said Epstein "clearly" had connections to "the highest levels" of American and Israeli intelligence communities, mentioning the CIA and Israel's Mossad intelligence service.

However, Vance did not provide evidence to support that assertion.

To date, U.S. authorities and several investigations have found no evidence Jeffrey Epstein worked for or was directed by the CIA, Mossad, or any other intelligence agency.

Numerous theories about possible intelligence links have circulated for years, fueled by Epstein's extensive network of wealthy and influential associates, but no official investigation has substantiated those claims.

Epstein, a financier who associated with politicians, business leaders, royalty, and celebrities, was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls.

He pleaded not guilty before dying by suicide in a Manhattan federal jail the following month while awaiting trial. His death ended the criminal case against him.

Vance also criticized what he described as efforts by "certain elements" within the Israeli government to influence U.S. policy toward Iran.

Referring to a recent Time magazine report about political consulting related to the Iran war, Vance alleged there had been a "well-funded campaign" aimed at derailing negotiations with Tehran.

"My response to that is, well, 'Go to hell,'" Vance said.

There is no evidence Israel sought to derail negotiations using social media. Time quoted an anonymous national security figure suggesting a tie between social media posts and Israeli efforts to combat misinformation online.

Connecting the Dots:

Kate Betts is a contributing editor for TIME magazine and a friend of Melissa Soros.

Melissa Soros is a friend of Kate Betts and was married to Robert Soros.

Robert Soros was married to Melissa Soros and is George Soros’s son.

George Soros is Robert Soros’s father and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Strobe Talbott is the president of the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was an editor for Time magazine.

Ben S. Bernanke is a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was the 2009 person of the year for Time magazine.

Mikhail Gorbachev was the 1987 & 1989 person of the year for TIME magazine, the general secretary for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the president of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the founder of Green Cross International.

Global Green USA is a US affiliate of Green Cross International.

Green Cross International

https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Green_Cross_International#Honorary_Board

Ted Turner was an honorary board Green Cross International, USA.

Ted Turner is an honorary board Green Cross International, USA, the founder of CNN, a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and was the 1991 person of the year for Time magazine.

Sanjay Gupta is the chief medical correspondent for CNN and a columnist for Time magazine.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

William J. Clinton is the founder & director for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, was the 1992 & 1998 person of the year for Time magazine and Strobe Talbott’s roommate at Oxford.

Strobe Talbott was William J. Clinton’s roommate at Oxford, an editor for Time magazine and is the president of the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Ben S. Bernanke was the 2009 person of the year for Time magazine and is a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Andrew S. Grove was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and the 1997 person of the year for Time magazine.

Samantha Power was a director at the International Rescue Committee and a foreign policy columnist for Time magazine.

Henry A. Kissinger was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and the 1972 person of the year for Time magazine.

Michael J. Elliott was a deputy managing editor for Time magazine and the president & CEO for the ONE Campaign.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign and is married to Barack Obama.

Barack Obama is married to Michelle Obama and was the 2008 & 2012 person of the year for Time magazine.

Adolf Hitler was the 1938 person of the year for TIME magazine and the Nazi Party leader.

Anwar Sadat was the 1977 person of the year for Time magazine and Richard A. Debs was his pro-bono financial adviser.

Richard A. Debs was a pro-bono financial adviser for Anwar Sadat and a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a friend of Michael Douglas and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Michael Douglas is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a friend of George Soros.

Ted Turner was a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the founder of CNN and the 1991 person of the year for Time magazine.

Walter Isaacson is the chairman & CEO for CNN, a managing editor for Time magazine and the president & CEO for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Henry A. Kissinger was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and the 1972 person of the year for Time magazine.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank), the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

R. James Woolsey is a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and was a director at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

William H. Webster was an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a director at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

George J. Tenet was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), a director at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and John O. Brennan was his chief of staff.

John O. Brennan was George J. Tenet chief of staff and the director at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) & the former assistant to the president for homeland security & counterterrorism for the Barack Obama administration.

James R. Schlesinger was an honorary director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank) and a director at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Judith A. Miscik was the deputy director of intelligence for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and a director at the International Rescue Committee.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the International Rescue Committee.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Andrew S. Grove was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and the 1997 person of the year for Time magazine.

Samantha Power was a director at the International Rescue Committee and a foreign policy columnist for Time magazine.

Henry A. Kissinger was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and the 1972 person of the year for Time magazine.

Michael J. Elliott was a deputy managing editor for Time magazine and the president & CEO for the ONE Campaign.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign and is married to Barack Obama.

Morton H. Halperin was a director at the ONE Campaign, served with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) is a senior adviser for the Soros Open Society Foundations and Mark Halperin’s father.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, a friend of Michael Douglas and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the International Rescue Committee.

Harold E. Ford Jr. was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and a political commentator at MSNBC.

Mark Halperin In 2010, Halperin joined MSNBC, becoming the senior political analyst and a contributor, the founding editor for Bloomberg Politics, Morton H. Halperin’s son, a senior political analyst for Time magazine and is currently a host and commentator for Newsmax TV.

Bloomberg Politics is a division of Bloomberg LP.

Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder of Bloomberg LP and was an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

International Rescue Committee is a partner with the ONE Campaign.

Andrew S. Grove was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and the 1997 person of the year for Time magazine.

Samantha Power was a director at the International Rescue Committee and a foreign policy columnist for Time magazine.

Henry A. Kissinger was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee and the 1972 person of the year for Time magazine.

Michael J. Elliott was a deputy managing editor for Time magazine and the president & CEO for the ONE Campaign.

ONE Campaign is a partner with the International Rescue Committee.

Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

Howard G. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign and Warren E. Buffett’s son.

Susan A. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign and Warren E. Buffett’s daughter.

Warren E. Buffett is Howard G. Buffett & Susan A. Buffett’s father and an adviser at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Michael Douglas is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a friend of George Soros.

Ted Turner was a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the founder of CNN and the 1991 person of the year for Time magazine.

Barack Obama was the 2008 & 2012 person of the year for Time magazine, an intern at Sidley Austin LLP and is married to Michelle Obama.

Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign, a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP and is married to Barack Obama.

James David Vance worked at Sidley Austin LLP, was a contributor for CNN and is the Vice President for the Donald Trump Administration.

Sidley Austin LLP is the lobby firm for Israel.

R. Eden Martin was counsel at Sidley Austin LLP and is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Newton N. Minow was a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Cameron F. Kerry is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, John F. Kerry’s brother and a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Strobe Talbott is the president of the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was an editor for Time magazine.

Ben S. Bernanke is a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was the 2009 person of the year for Time magazine.

Thomas R. Pickering is a distinguished fellow for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was a U.S. ambassador for Israel.

Saban Center for Middle East Policy is a policy center at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Shimon Peres was the president of Israel and a friend of Haim Saban.

Haim Saban was a friend of Shimon Peres, is a benefactor for the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a board member for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.

Crown Family Foundation was a funder for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.

Lester Crown is the VP for the Crown Family Foundation, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Newton N. Minow was the president of the Crown Family Foundation, a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

James S. Crown is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

R. Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago and was counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Sidley Austin LLP is the lobby firm for Israel.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP and the president of the Barack Obama administration.

James David Vance worked at Sidley Austin LLP, was a contributor for CNN and is the Vice President for the Donald Trump Administration.

Walter Isaacson is the chairman & CEO for CNN, a managing editor for Time magazine and the president & CEO for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Henry A. Kissinger was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and the 1972 person of the year for Time magazine.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank), the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Michael Douglas is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a friend of George Soros.

Ted Turner was a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), the founder of CNN and the 1991 person of the year for Time magazine.

James David Vance was a contributor for CNN, worked at Sidley Austin LLP and is the Vice President for the Donald Trump Administration.

Sidley Austin LLP is the lobby firm for Israel.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP and the president of the Barack Obama administration.

Newton N. Minow was a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, the president of the Crown Family Foundation, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Crown Family Foundation was a funder for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.

Lester Crown is the VP for the Crown Family Foundation, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Thomas R. Pickering was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a U.S. ambassador for Israel.

James S. Crown is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank) and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Penny S. Pritzker is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce for the Barack Obama administration, was the national finance chair, fundraiser for the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a co-chair for the 2009 Barack Obama inaugural committee, a fundraiser, national co-chair for the 2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a contributor for the 2013 Barack Obama inaugural committee, the host for the Barack Obama fund-raising dinner, 7/2/2008, Craig M. Robinson’s basketball coach for the children's team (Michelle Obama’s brother) and Donald Pritzker’s daughter.

Donald Pritzker was Penny S. Pritzker & J.B. Pritzker’s father.

J.B. Pritzker’s father was Donald Pritzker and is the president of the Pritzker Family Foundation.

Pritzker Family Foundation was a funder for the American Israel Education Foundation.

American Israel Education Foundation is the charitable arm for AIPAC.

Saban Family Foundation was a funder for the American Israel Education Foundation, a funder for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Haim Saban is the treasurer for the Saban Family Foundation, a benefactor for the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), a board member for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, married to Cheryl Saban and was a friend of Shimon Peres.

Cheryl Saban is married to Haim Saban, the president of the Saban Family Foundation, a director at the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation and was a contributor for Priorities USA Action.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Hillary Rodham Clinton was a director at the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation and is the candidate for the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign.

Priorities USA Action is supporting the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign.

Ready PAC (Ready For Hillary) supported the 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign.

George Soros was a co-chair, national finance council for the Ready PAC (Ready For Hillary) and the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Strobe Talbott is the president of the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was an editor for Time magazine.

Ben S. Bernanke is a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was the 2009 person of the year for Time magazine.

Global Green USA is a US affiliate of Green Cross International.

Green Cross International

https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Green_Cross_International#Honorary_Board

Ted Turner was an honorary board Green Cross International, USA.

Sanjay Gupta is the chief medical correspondent for CNN and a columnist for Time magazine.

Kate Betts is a contributing editor for TIME magazine and a friend of Melissa Soros.

Melissa Soros is a friend of Kate Betts and was married to Robert Soros.

Robert Soros was married to Melissa Soros and is George Soros’s son.

George Soros is Robert Soros’s father and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Strobe Talbott is the president of the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was an editor for Time magazine.

Ben S. Bernanke is a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was the 2009 person of the year for Time magazine.

Green Cross International

https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Green_Cross_International#Honorary_Board

Ted Turner was an honorary board Green Cross International, USA.

Sanjay Gupta is the chief medical correspondent for CNN and a columnist for Time magazine.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).