U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at a campaign rally in North Carolina during the release of a protester demanding the disclosure of the Epstein files (French)
Afrasianet - Bashar Abu Zekri - A campaign rally for U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance in Hendersonville, North Carolina, on Monday booed "United States" as a protester walked out of the event after boycotting it demanding the release of the files of the late American billionaire and businessman Jeffrey Epstein, who is accused of running a prostitution network, exploiting his homes and an island he owned to commit sex crimes and assaults on underage girls.
The protester stood shouting, "Reveal the Epstein files" and "God bless our children," before security personnel intervened to get him out, while Vance watched the scene and the audience began chanting "United States."
Vance commented on the boycott to applause and laughter from the audience, saying, "I mentioned that we don't have any cases of illegal border crossings into the United States," and then sarcastically added, "But, if it's one case, that's not a bad thing, is it?" referring to the protester who was taken abroad.
Vance criticized his Democratic opponents, saying, "We know what the person who was yelling behind us represents, and we know what the Democrats on the far left, like Don Davis, represent."
He added that Democrats embrace, as he described it, the idea that the government existed to serve "crooks, criminals or illegal immigrants," while he said the U.S. government existed to serve American citizens.
The rally was held in Hendersonville on Monday, as part of a campaign in which Vance participated in support of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley and Republican congressional candidate Jennifer Balkke.
Vance's comments drew criticism from U.S. politicians and activists, who saw them as an attempt to question the identity of the protester rather than deal with his demand for the disclosure of Epstein's files and accountability for those involved in the case.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a post on the X platform that it was insulting to suggest that only irregular immigrants care about justice for victims and holding perpetrators accountable, stressing that most U.S. citizens care about that as well.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna wrote, "It may be hard to believe, Vance, but many American citizens would like to see the child molesters named in the Epstein files face accountability."
American political commentator Aaron Parnas wrote that "J.D. Vance's blatant racism is reappearing," while political activist Casey Allen criticized what he described as the contradiction between election promises and the stance on those demanding the disclosure of the documents.
Allen said Republicans campaigned with the slogans of "cleansing the swamp" and "full transparency on the Epstein case," but any American who demands the disclosure of the original files is out of action and doubts are raised about his identity, which he said will remain part of the administration's legacy.
Activists have made similar criticisms, noting that Vance campaigned on a pledge to disclose Epstein's files, before questioning the affiliation of someone who publicly demanded their release.
Others questioned why Republicans continued to be angry with those calling for the documents to be released, and whether it raised more doubts about the case.
Supporters of the Republican administration, on the other hand, believe that the boycotts are aimed at disrupting party rallies, at a time when the public debate over the release of documents related to the Epstein case is escalating, in conjunction with the preparations for the U.S. midterm elections.
The incident came one week after an altercation broke out at a campaign rally for US President Donald Trump on October 12 in Youngstown, Ohio, where a video showed a protester being pushed to the ground before law enforcement escorted her away.
Vance's visit to Hendersonville is part of a broader Republican campaign in conjunction with the midterm elections, which include races for the House and Senate. President Donald Trump is also scheduled to visit Greenville as the Republican Party seeks to support its candidates in heated races ahead of Election Day.
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Source: Social Media.
