Epstein files take back seat in midterms but experts say issue has not gone away
Özet haber: Other voter concerns have prevailed but return of Congress likely to see renewed focus on late sex offender’s activities
Other voter concerns have prevailed but return of Congress likely to see renewed focus on late sex offender’s activities
As US voters head to the polls for crucial and fraught midterm elections, some survivors’ advocates in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation have expressed concern that the scandal could recede into the background.
Political experts believe, however, the Epstein issue is not going away permanently and that many voters can balance day-to-day concerns such as affordability and AI with the scandal involving the late financier and accused sex trafficker whose social circle was widespread among America’s elite.
“My greatest concern is not that the public will forget Jeffrey Epstein, but that the politicians and institutions responsible for accountability will use the chaos of world events as an excuse to move on,” said Spencer Kuvin of Goldlaw, who has represented multiple Epstein survivors.
Kuvin added: “Wars, economic crises and political controversies may dominate the headlines, but they do not erase the suffering of the victims or the unanswered questions about how Epstein and his powerful associates were allowed to operate for decades.
“Justice should not have an expiration date, and it certainly should not be dictated by the news cycle. We cannot allow the Epstein scandal to become yesterday’s news simply because today’s headlines are more urgent.”
Kuvin called for the US government to continue releasing Epstein files – which many have said were excluded from allegedly incomplete disclosures – and for Congress to demand accountability.
“It has been disappointing to have seen attention diverted from Jeffrey Epstein in the past year,” said Jennifer Freeman of Marsh Law, who represents numerous Epstein survivors in litigation surrounding his sexual abuse of teenage girls.
Freeman, however, expressed optimism about the long-term prospects of justice for survivors, saying: “While public attention may have shifted from the Epstein case, given the electoral cycle, I am confident it will command concentration and accountability shortly again.”
Freeman noted that she was continuing to pursue a lawsuit against the US government for alleged negligence “in repeatedly, for decades, dropping the ball on investigating and prosecuting Epstein”. She is also litigating a class-action lawsuit against his estate related to his collection and production of child sex abuse images.
Political experts said that Epstein might get less attention from campaigning politicians and voters, but that it was probably a temporary dip, not a permanent drop-off.
“It really does feel like everything is on fire. I think people can care about several things at once, but what’s directly affecting their lives tends to take priority,” Brittany Martinez, a Republican strategist who works as acting director of Principles First, said. “When they’re worried about gas prices, living costs and whether their government is working for them, that can push Epstein out of the immediate conversation.
