Midterm Campaigns Utilize Epstein-Related Attacks to Target Opponents

Political campaigns and outside groups are running advertisements that associate opponents with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. These spots, which have seen over $35 million in spending, aim to evoke strong reactions from voters regarding the handling of information related to his criminal activities.

Democratic-aligned groups have targeted Republican candidates for initially opposing procedural efforts to force a vote on releasing Epstein-related files. While many of these ads suggest candidates were protecting the offender, they often exclude the fact that most House Republicans ultimately voted in favor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act once it reached the floor.

Republican candidates have pushed back against these characterizations, noting their support for the final legislation or clarifying their previous positions on the legislative process. Some campaigns have also criticized the use of these ads as misleading or exploitative of victims.

In turn, some Republicans have accused Democratic candidates of having their own connections to the late offender. These counter-attacks have focused on campaign contributions from donors with past ties to Epstein or, in one instance, allegations regarding a chartered flight, which the candidate stated was booked without knowledge of the company's ownership.