President Donald Trump's Jeffrey Epstein controversy is a problem that doesn’t seem to go away for Republican candidates, with Democrats spending tens of millions of dollars to keep his connections to powerful figures in the political spotlight.
According to The Washington Post, which cited AdImpact data, Democrats have spent $53 million on campaign ads mentioning Epstein in competitive races, while Republicans spent a tiny fraction of that with $3 million.
The attacks have gone after Republican lawmakers who initially resisted legislation on releasing the Epstein files, along with the candidates who accepted money from donors with Epstein links.
Some Republicans are going out of their way to distance themselves from the scandal.
Iowa Republican Ashley Hinson, who is running for the Senate, released an ad invoking her family to deny links to the deceased sex predator.
Hinson addressed the ad this week after Democrats spent $8.5 million on ads exposing that she accepted money from Epstein-linked donors.
With the Epstein Files being a hot-button issue for Republicans, any association could be damning for GOP candidates.
In Ohio, Democrats spent $5.2 million targeting Republican Sen. Jon Husted over contributions from people associated with Epstein, including billionaire Les Wexner, who was heavily scrutinized for hiring Epstein as his financial manager.
Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas has also been haunted by the ghost of Epstein as Democrats spend big to remind voters that he initially opposed releasing the files. He previously described it as a "political stunt.”
It appears the Democrats' strategy is having an effect, as protesters have shown up to GOP campaign events.
The Post reported that Epstein protesters have crashed Trump events in Pennsylvania and Ohio, as well as Vice President JD Vance's appearance in North Carolina.
Democratic groups have also taken the issue on the road with exhibits showing the documents in battleground states.
The Epstein scandal was the first incident in which Trump clashed with his own supporters during his second term. The president spent months resisting demands to release the records, despite calls for disclosure from his party and supporters. He was eventually pressured into signing off on the release, and Congress overwhelmingly approved it.
Republicans have fought back, pointing the finger right back at Democrats and accusing them of exploiting the scandal to ensure voters stay at home. Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan went on the defensive, pointing to his vote to release the files while accusing Democratic opponent Mary Peltola of accepting money from Epstein associates.
Trump has lost supporters who stuck by him through thick and thin over Epstein. CNN profiled a MAGA superfan who traveled across the country to support him, turning her back over his resistance to releasing the files.
