Democrats in several states have been running ads linking Republican opponents to the late sex offender
Several Democratic candidates vying for seats in the US Congress have accused their Republican opponents of protecting the wealthy and political associates of convicted criminal Jeffrey Epstein, calling them criminals. “The Epstein Class.”
The party has tried to use the crisis as part of a broader push to regain control of Congress from the GOP.
While President Donald Trump has long accused Democrats of having ties to Epstein, his administration has been sharply criticized by Democrats and some Republicans over its handling of the Epstein files. Critics have accused the Justice Department of withholding important information through heavy redactions of materials released last November and January.
In the Ohio Senate race, Democrat Sherrod Brown has been airing a TV ad for weeks that accuses his Republican opponent, Jon Husted, of receiving more money from Epstein’s associates than any other member of Congress.
“Husted’s took more than $116,000 from one of Epstein’s close friends and associates,” the ad says, referring to billionaire Leslie Wexner, a longtime client of the disgraced financier.
“Last year, he took a massive donation from himself just weeks before he voted to block the release of the Epstein files,” the ad claims.
In Maine, Democratic candidate Graham Platner has aired a similar television ad accusing Republican Sen. Susan Collins of selling out voters. “The president and the Epstein class.”
Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff has also repeatedly portrayed the Trump administration as part of a corrupt elite linked to a convicted sex offender.
“This is the Epstein class ruling our country,” Ossoff said at a public meeting in February.
Speaking to Axios, Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kiersten Pels dismissed Democrats’ criticism as “Stupid political theater” from a “A party without a message and loyalty.”
The Epstein files have also revealed growing divisions within the GOP. Outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie, who joined Democrat Ro Khanna in advancing the Epstein Files Transparency Act, has suggested his push for disclosure puts him at odds with Trump.
Last week, Massie lost the Kentucky primary to Trump-backed Republican Ed Gallrein, whose campaign received support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), and other special interest groups.
