Vance Says Anyone 'Selling Access' to the White House Should 'Suffer Consequences'
In a CBS News town hall in Michigan, the vice president also says he would comply with congressional subpoenas if Democrats win control of the House or Senate.
Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that anybody "selling access to the White House" should "suffer consequences," as the administration faces questions about money and influence less than three weeks before the midterm elections.
Vance made the remarks to "CBS Evening News" anchor Tony Dokoupil during a one-hour town hall in Michigan that CBS News will air Saturday evening. Dokoupil pointed to a string of recent reports, including President Trump's staggering cryptocurrency earnings and the ousting of U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle over allegations that she asked a man seeking help from the Trump administration to wire her $100,000.
"First of all, if somebody's selling access to the White House, that's disgusting and despicable and they should suffer consequences," Vance responded. He then drew a line around how he would judge individual cases. "I want to make those judgments based on the facts and not based on a random news media report that I read," he said.
Guilfoyle has denied wrongdoing. She announced her resignation within two hours of the White House publicly asking her to step down earlier this week, and she said at the time she intended to "vigorously defend" her name. Her lawyers have said the money she sought from a Trump donor was payment for public appearances and speaking engagements that predate her ambassadorial nomination. Trump has denied any conflicts of interest.
The exchange also touched on what could happen after Election Day. Congressional Democrats have vowed to investigate the Trump administration if they win control of the House or Senate, which would give them command of committees and the power to issue subpoenas to administration officials. Dokoupil asked Vance whether the administration would comply.
"Of course I will," Vance said. "Look, I mean, we follow the law."
Vance did not say what the administration would treat as a lawful demand, and the president, not the vice president, has the final say on how the executive branch responds to a subpoena.
The town hall, titled "Things That Matter: A Town Hall With Vice President JD Vance," airs Saturday, Oct. 17, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network and will stream on Paramount+. The one-hour special will also be available afterward on CBSNews.com, YouTube and CBS News 24/7.
The appearance comes with Trump's approval rating faltering and voters across the country weighing who should control Congress. Vance's comments on access-selling and oversight give Democrats a public statement to hold the administration to if they win a chamber on Nov. 3.
