JD Vance Seeks DOJ Probe of Minnesota Officials and Sparks Epstein Fallout Dispute

Vice President JD Vance urged the Justice Department to open an investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, alleging they allowed widespread fraud in state social‑services programs. Vance referenced a Republican‑led House Oversight Committee report and asked the new DOJ division, created under the Trump administration’s “war on fraud,” to hold the officials accountable.

In a separate internal conflict, Vance clashed with President Donald Trump’s inner circle over how to handle the fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein case. According to a book excerpt, Vance advocated for maximum transparency, proposing that the White House enlist Tucker Carlson to interview Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell in prison. The suggestion was rebuffed by chief of staff Susie Wiles and other senior staff, who preferred not to pursue the high‑profile interview. The disagreement highlighted broader tensions within the administration regarding the release of grand‑jury materials and other sensitive information related to the Epstein investigation.