‘Release Epstein files’: Man heckles Vance at rally, VP calls him ‘illegal immigrant’

A protester demanding the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files interrupted US Vice-President JD Vance’s speech on Monday at a Republican campaign rally in Hendersonville, North Carolina, ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Just few minutes into Vance’s address, a man standing directly behind the vice-president stood up and shouted, “God bless our children!” and “Release the Epstein files!”, footage of the incident showed. Security personnel subsequently escorted the protester out as he continued shouting.

The interruption brought renewed attention to the Trump administration’s handling of records relating to Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender whose sexual abuse of underage girls and connections to powerful figures have fuelled years of scrutiny.

According to footage of the rally, Vance joked after the protester was removed by referring to his earlier remarks on illegal border crossings. “I said that we have had zero illegal border crossings in the United States of America, but one isn’t bad right?” he said.

The Epstein files comprise investigative records, court documents, emails, photographs, videos and other material relating to Epstein, his associates and investigations into his activities. On January 30, 2026, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the release of more than three million additional pages, bringing the total disclosure to nearly 3.5 million pages. The release also included more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images.

The disclosures followed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump in November 2025. The records include investigative material, court documents, communications and information about Epstein’s associates. Being named in the files does not, by itself, establish criminal wrongdoing.

Vance acknowledged the administration’s communication problems over the disclosures in July, saying it had “absolutely screwed up the comms”, according to his remarks on a podcast. He blamed former attorney-general Pam Bondi for overstating what the initial releases contained, while denying that the administration was deliberately concealing information.

The controversy has persisted amid questions about redactions and whether all relevant records have been disclosed. The DOJ has disputed criticism over allegedly withheld documents, while lawmakers continue to press for transparency.