'What are you afraid of?' JD Vance's Epstein interview answer instantly backfires on him

Vice President JD Vance set off alarm bells with experts on Sunday with his answer to a Fox News host asking about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

In his reply during the interview, Vance sought to blame Democrats, saying, "We know that Jeffrey Epstein had a lot connections with left-wing politicians and left-wing billionaires ... Democrat billionaires and Democrat political leaders went to Epstein island all the time. Who knows what they did?"

The kickback online happened instantly.

Former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau said, "Dhas been plotting with the AG and FBI Director to cover it up Release the names! Democrats, Republicans, billionaires, or not. What are you afraid of, [Vance]?"

University of Illinois international relations professor Nicholas Grossman responded with a question: "Why is Donald Trump protecting left-wing politicians and left-wing billionaires who are associated with Jeffrey Epstein from justice?"

"Why is he hiding that from the American people? What else must be in the Epstein files that he so badly wants to hide that he's protecting political opponents to do it?" he then asked.

Historian Kevin M. Kruse said, "The official White House line is now that those dirty Democrats must've been hiding some serious dirty about dirty Democrats in the Epstein files and that's why the much more transparent Republicans won't release them now and uh Trump might pardon Maxwell too?"

"The more I think about it, the more I think JD Vance is right," he then added. "The Epstein files must just have dirt on Democrats, so Republicans have every reason to release them in full. Checkmate, libs."

Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney and host of SiriusXM radio’s daily program, “The Dean Obeidallah Show," also chimed in on social media:

"JD Vance wants you to believe only Democrats hung around with Jeffrey Epstein."

"In reality Trump was on Epstein's Lolita Express plane at least 7 times, was caught on video partying with Epstein and said in 2002 in midst of Epstein child sex ring 'I've known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy,'" he then added.