Vice president says taping Situation Room meetings would be a felony

Vice President JD Vance said he is concerned that audio recordings were made of a Situation Room meeting about Jeffrey Epstein. The remarks came after two New York Times reporters published an excerpt from their book describing a July 17, 2025, meeting in the secure room.

The excerpt reported that officials discussed public-relations strategy for the Epstein case. Vance appeared Tuesday on The Megyn Kelly Show. He said part of the New York Times account contained inaccuracies and part contained accurate details.

Recording concerns Vance stated that any recording of Situation Room conversations would constitute a felony. He described the New York Times account as "very weird" and "a nothing-burger" because the details were already known. Axios separately reported that White House officials suspected the New York Times obtained audio of the meeting despite a prohibition on recording devices.

Epstein case background The Justice Department released millions of files related to Epstein earlier this year. Questions about Epstein’s connections to public figures have continued since his 2019 death, which was ruled a suicide. The book excerpt stated that officials discussed releasing information and considered asking Tucker Carlson to interview Ghislaine Maxwell.