(Adnkronos) – The partial release of documents related to the Epstein case risks turning into a political boomerang for Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The extensive redactions and the limited number of files published – in apparent contrast to the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed last month by Donald Trump – have fueled discontent not only among Democrats, but also within the conservative front and, in particular, the Maga world. Precisely that area which for years had loudly called for the publication of the dossiers, supporting theories about the “deep state” committed to protecting powerful elites, now fears that the affair could continue to damage the party’s image and depress the mobilization of the Trumpian electorate.
The Trump administration presented the disclosure of the documents as proof of transparency, but several Republican parliamentarians and well-known right-wing commentators deemed it insufficient and potentially in violation of the bipartisan law that required the full publication of the files held by the Department of Justice. The material made public in fact represents only a part of the available archive and in many cases is heavily redacted, with entire files of over a hundred pages completely blacked out and with few references to Trump himself, as opposed to numerous mentions and images of former Democratic president Bill Clinton.
According to conservative analysts cited by The Guardian, the Epstein case remains an open wound for the Republican electorate because it reinforces the perception of a “system” that protects itself. “Partial disclosures add fuel to the fire of conspiracy theories and legitimate concerns about transparency,” observed Republican Brian Darling, warning that the issue represents a political risk for swing seats.
Leading the criticism are prominent figures from the Maga world, such as Representatives Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene – recently at odds with Trump precisely over the Epstein case – who called the redactions “inconsistent” with the movement and warned that “people are furious and leaving.” Despite assurances from the Department of Justice, which attributes the delays to the “enormous” volume of documents and the need to protect victims, the conservative front appears divided: on one side, those who minimize delays and removals, shifting attention to Clinton’s presence in the files; on the other, those who fear that the incompleteness of the revelations will end up harming Republicans most, keeping the Epstein case at the center of the debate until the midterms.
