House Oversight Committee ranking member Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) declared Thursday that he will push for an investigation into Vice President Vance's involvement in what he described as the Trump administration's cover-up of actions related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move follows a New York Times report detailing Vance's role in steering the White House response to media scrutiny over President Trump's ties to Epstein.
According to the report, Vance convened multiple meetings in the White House Situation Room—typically reserved for national security matters—to coordinate the administration's strategy. The sessions focused on managing fallout from a Wall Street Journal article that explored Trump's relationship with Epstein, as well as handling the release of files tied to Epstein's estate. Vance reportedly urged Cabinet officials to expedite the document release, arguing that a slow, Congress-led process would amplify the scandal's damage to the administration.
“For the first time in this whole Epstein investigation, we have the Vice President of the United States that is now part of this massive cover-up,” Garcia told reporters. He added that the meetings included discussions on protecting the president and crafting strategy around Ghislaine Maxwell, who has been linked to Epstein. “She exonerates Donald Trump,” Garcia said, calling the reporting a “huge bombshell.”
The Situation Room meeting included White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, White House counsel David Warrington, press secretary Karoline Leavitt, deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich, Communications Director Steven Cheung, then-deputy attorney general Todd Blanche, associate attorney general Stanley Woodward Jr., and deputy chief of staff James Blair. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel participated by phone.
Garcia said he plans to ask House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) to subpoena Vance to testify within the next 24 hours or so. “Why are we having meetings in the Situation Room about Epstein strategy?” Garcia asked, calling the situation “pretty crazy.”
The White House and Vance's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The investigation builds on broader House inquiries into Epstein's network, which have already drawn in figures like former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Garcia has previously condemned the Gates-Epstein link as the House probes the billionaire's post-conviction ties.
The revelations come amid ongoing political tensions over the Epstein case, which has ensnared high-profile figures across party lines. Garcia's push for a subpoena underscores Democratic efforts to hold the administration accountable, even as Republicans control the House. The Situation Room's use for such strategy sessions has raised eyebrows, given its typical role in handling sensitive national security threats.
