The Jeffrey Epstein files have taken a back seat in the midterm campaigns, The Guardian reported Saturday. Voters are focused on costs and other worries, and some survivors' advocates fear the scandal could recede. Political experts say the dip is probably temporary 1.
Epstein was a financier and accused sex trafficker who is now dead. His social circle reached into America's elite 1. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Why it has faded, and why it may not stay that way
Brittany Martinez, a Republican strategist who is acting director of Principles First, said worries about gas prices and living costs can push Epstein out of the immediate conversation. She still expects the demand for answers to continue. In her words, people will hear less about it "for stretches, rather than see it disappear altogether" 1.
Shawn Donahue, a political scientist at the University at Buffalo, pointed to timing. Congress is in recess, so there is no floor debate on a proposed follow-up bill, the Epstein Files Transparency Act II. Advocates say the original 2025 law lacks enforcement mechanisms 1.
From Channel GOPSenator says Patel helped cover up Epstein filesSen. Dick Durbin · 2.1K plays · captioned, with the source named
Donahue said the issue will likely return when Congress is back in session. If Democrats win the House, as polls project, he expects them to quickly "put Republicans on the spot." He added that Democrats are ready to start investigating "from day one" 1.
What the new bill would do
A bipartisan group led by Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, and Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, backs the follow-up bill. According to a July report, it would let state attorneys general, Epstein's victims and members of Congress sue the Justice Department over Epstein records it withholds, redacts or delays 2.
Massie said then that the department "has flagrantly and consistently ignored EFTA's disclosure requirements" 2. EFTA stands for the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the existing law. The Justice Department says it has complied with that law and has released all the investigative files it requires 1.
But they won't forget that this president was Epstein's friend and tried to hide the truth from them.
Sen. Ben Ray Luján, a New Mexico Democrat, said he will keep pushing for the full release of the files. "We cannot lose sight of the need to release the full Epstein files, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure survivors receive the justice they deserve," he said 1.
The White House and Justice Department respond
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said Trump has been "totally exonerated on anything relating to Epstein." She said he has released thousands of pages, cooperated with a House Oversight Committee subpoena and signed the transparency act 1. Her statement also said several Democrats had not explained why they sought money and meetings from Epstein after he was a convicted sex offender 1.
The Justice Department is also in a dispute with New Mexico. The state's attorney general, Raúl Torrez, has said the department is not helping the state's Epstein investigation. The department rejected that claim. It said the law and court protective orders in New York do not allow it to disclose victim-identifying information "carte blanche" 1.
What happens next
Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Teresa Leger Fernández and Deborah Ross recently introduced a bill to address survivors' financial burdens 1. Jennifer Freeman, a lawyer for Epstein survivors, is also pursuing a lawsuit against the U.S. government. It alleges negligence in how Epstein was investigated over decades. She is litigating a class action against his estate as well 1.
Attention shifts with the news cycle, but the unresolved questions have not been answered. The next Congress could decide whether the Justice Department's disclosures are tested in court, and the outcome of the Nov. 3 vote will shape that.
The Record
Sources
- The Guardian, “Epstein files take back seat in midterms but experts say issue has not gone away” (2026-10-24). theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/24/epstein-files-midterms
- The Center Square via The Highland County Press, “Group in Congress pushing for more Epstein transparency” (2026-07-26). highlandcountypress.com/headlines/group-congress-pushing-mor
Found an error? Tell the newsroom. Corrections are noted at the top of the story.
