JD Vance wants penalties for peddling White House access

JD Vance said on Thursday that anybody who sells entry to the White House deserves penalties, as scrutiny of the Trump administration grows.

The vice president spoke with anchor Tony Dokoupil at a town hall in Michigan. The hour-long program airs at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, October 17, and voters head to the midterm elections in under three weeks.

Vance called the practice “disgusting and despicable.” He said people who do it should suffer consequences.

JD Vance on the Guilfoyle claims

Dokoupil raised a string of recent reports. They included Trump’s large earnings from cryptocurrency and the exit of Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece.

Guilfoyle lost her post after claims that she asked a man who sought help from the administration to send her $100,000. She has denied any wrongdoing.

The vice president did not accept the claims as fact, though. He told the interviewer that a verdict on any individual should wait until investigators had assembled all the evidence. He said he wanted to judge such matters “based on the facts and not based on a random news media report.”

However, Trump has denied any conflict of interest. The White House asked Guilfoyle to resign, and Trump told reporters: “She will not be there.” He added that he had not spoken to her about the allegations. A question about a possible pardon for Guilfoyle, should she face legal trouble, drew no direct answer from him. Speaking about Guilfoyle, he said he had not liked what he read.

He also told another channel that she had done a good job as ambassador, but that the text messages left him surprised and disappointed.

Democrats and possible subpoenas

Democrats have vowed to investigate the administration should they take over either chamber. Control of the House or Senate would give them committee gavels and subpoena power.

Dokoupil also pressed the vice president on the president’s cryptocurrency income, one of several reports he put to Vance during the hour-long town hall. JD Vance replied that he wanted facts, not rumours, before forming a view.

Dokoupil asked whether the administration would comply. “Of course I will,” Vance replied. “We follow the law.”

The exchange came in a rough week for the White House. Separately, its new press secretary drew criticism after her first briefing.

As a result, every question about access and influence carries extra weight for the party in power.

Still, Vance stopped short of ruling on Guilfoyle’s case before the facts emerged, even as he condemned the practice itself. Asked about the case, Trump said he had known her for years but not particularly well, and he noted her earlier marriage to California’s Gavin Newsom.

Democrats, for their part, say the allegations show why strong oversight matters. The remark from the vice president gives them a clear quote for the campaign trail.

For now, the White House has not said whether any action will follow against Guilfoyle, who left her post after the reports surfaced.

Even so, JD Vance made clear that he would cooperate with any lawful demand for documents.