Epstein Files become a midterms flashpoint as calls grow for full release
newsOct 28, 20266272
Katie Phang argues in the Guardian that the Jeffrey Epstein files have become a midterms flashpoint as Americans head to the polls, framing the records as emblematic of a two-tiered system of justice and a test of accountability. A September GBAO poll cited by Phang found 88% of likely midterm voters prioritize candidates who promise to hold powerful people to account, and a Reuters/Ipsos poll earlier this year found 69% of Americans believe the files show powerful people are rarely held accountable. Phang recounts President Trump’s on-camera promise to declassify the files, then says that after Trump took office and Kash Patel ran the FBI the administration reversed course, with the DOJ issuing a memo claiming no client list or evidence to pursue third-party investigations. Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act requiring release with limited redactions, but the initial DOJ rollout of about 3.5 million pages exposed confidential survivor information while blacking out names of wealthy or influential people, a step critics called a re-victimization. A recent report and media coverage have intensified pressure from Democrats, commentators and a Deadline podcast episode to release unredacted records; advocates say fuller disclosure could reshape voter sentiment and force new investigations or congressional actions before the November 3 midterms.
