Despite efforts by President Donald Trump and his inner circle to move past the controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, a bipartisan push in Congress could reignite the issue, with potentially serious political consequences.
Lawmakers are working on legislation that would require the Department of Justice to release all remaining Epstein-related files. The transparency effort has drawn support from some Republicans and Democrats, many of whom say the public deserves to know the full extent of Epstein's network and the names contained in sealed documents.
According to a new report by the Daily Beast, as lawmakers continue working on the bill, Trump's team has implemented a media restraint strategy aimed at managing fallout, amid fears that more damaging revelations are on the horizon. According to the outlet, all high-level inquiries related to Epstein are now routed through the administration's central communications office before reaching the president.
When asked whether Trump was concerned that renewed focus on Epstein could distract from his political agenda, a source close to the president told the outlet he had "moved on" and that the matter now rests with the Justice Department, which has petitioned a federal court to unseal grand jury testimony tied to the case.
Still, Trump's allies appear uncertain about how to navigate the controversy. A veteran Republican strategist told the Daily Beast that the president's team has struggled to develop a consistent response.
"The president operates from the perspective of what benefits him personally or financially, so in situations like this, neither he nor the team can figure out what that is," the strategist said. "This hasn't been anyone's finest hour."
Despite this, Trump himself addressed the controversy on social media, calling it a politically motivated distraction.
"I have had more success in 6 months than perhaps any President in our Country's history, and all these people want to talk about, with strong prodding by the Fake News and the success starved Dems, is the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax," he wrote on his Truth Social account earlier this month. "Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore!"
Trump's past relationship with Epstein has resurfaced multiple times over the years, but the controversy has intensified during his second term. On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi informed Trump in May that his name appears in the files expected to be released.
The following day, Politico reported that Trump was overheard privately distancing himself from Epstein but expressing concern about public reaction. "I had nothing to do with Epstein's crimes," he reportedly said. "But they're going to f--- me anyway."
The remarks have only deepened frustration among Trump's political base. Critics within the conservative movement say the administration's response undermines key promises made during Trump's first campaign.
"Trump was elected in 2016 partly on a pledge to 'lock her up,'" conservative commentator Matt Walsh told the Daily Beast, referring to Trump's vow to investigate Hillary Clinton's email practices.
"Arresting and prosecuting powerful and corrupt people has been a core issue for MAGA since its inception," Walsh said. "That's what the Epstein issue is about. And it's why the base can't and won't just drop it."
The bipartisan pressure on the Justice Department suggests the Epstein controversy will remain a flashpoint heading into the 2026 midterms and Democratic strategists have already begun using the issue in campaign messaging.
According to Axios, the Democratic National Committee is preparing a new round of digital ads targeting vulnerable Republican lawmakers. The videos will appear ahead of content on right-leaning platforms including Fox News, Charlie Kirk, and Ben Shapiro — audiences viewed as key to the Epstein-focused voter bloc.
"Call your representative. Demand they release the Epstein files," says one of the ads.
Another video features Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a close Trump ally, calling Epstein a "serious issue," in a rare break from the administration's messaging. A separate ad highlights long-circulated photos of Trump with Epstein, emphasizing their personal connection.
Tim Hogan, senior adviser for messaging, mobilization, and strategy at the DNC, said Democrats will continue pressing the issue.
"Democrats are going to continue to hold the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress accountable for their failure to release the Epstein files and the cover-up we are witnessing in real time," Hogan said. "The American people deserve full transparency, and Donald Trump and his sycophantic enablers are twisting themselves in knots trying to distort the truth."
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