在美国中期选举的最后阶段，电视屏幕上充斥着指控共和党候选人“保护恋童癖者”杰弗里·爱泼斯坦的广告 12。据CNN和华盛顿邮报分析，民主党及其支持团体在此类广告上的支出已超过3500万至4000万美元 12。这些广告主要聚焦于早期程序性投票中阻止快速通过《爱泼斯坦文件透明法案》的记录，尽管最终几乎全部众议院共和党人都投票通过了该法案 1。
具体攻击目标包括科罗拉多州共和党候选人Jeff Crank，他被指责投票反对发布爱泼斯坦相关文件以保护唐纳德·特朗普 1。艾奥瓦州参议员候选人Ashley Hinson对此回应称，她并未保护恋童癖者，并强调自己最终投票支持了《爱泼斯坦文件透明法案》 1。佛罗里达州共和党候选人Jimmy Patronis被指曾将调查爱泼斯坦称为“浪费时间”，但他辩称原意是指过程耗时耗力 1。新墨西哥州民主党候选人Deb Haaland虽被指控乘坐爱泼斯坦私人飞机并接受捐款，但她澄清仅乘坐过爱泼斯坦公司预订的航班且对此不知情 1。
作为反击，共和党试图将对爱泼斯坦案的公众愤怒转移给民主党 2。佐治亚州共和党候选人Mike Collins在辩论中攻击民主党对手Jon Ossoff接受与爱泼斯坦有联系的科技亿万富翁Reid Hoffman的捐款 1。唐纳德·特朗普最初反对通过请愿书强制发布文件，后在压力下转而支持立法，导致除一人外的所有众议院共和党人投下赞成票 1。
In the final push before the US midterm elections, television airwaves have been filled with advertisements from Democratic candidates and allied groups accusing Republican contenders of protecting Jeffrey Epstein. These ads specifically target Republicans who voted against releasing Epstein-related files, framing them as "protecting pedophiles." 12 The scale of this campaign is significant: CNN analysis reports that spending on these ads exceeds $35 million, while Washington Post estimates place the figure at over $40 million. 12
The political strategy behind these advertisements relies on highlighting early procedural votes that stalled legislation, rather than the final outcome. Although nearly all House Republicans ultimately voted to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the ads focus on initial attempts to block the bill's quick passage. 1 This approach has sparked strong rebuttals from Republican candidates who argue they are being misrepresented. For instance, Ashley Hinson, a Senate candidate in Iowa, denied protecting pedophiles and pointed out that she eventually voted in favor of the transparency law. 1 Similarly, Jimmy Patronis, a Republican candidate in Florida, defended himself against claims that he viewed investigating Epstein as a "waste of time," clarifying that his original remark referred to the process being time-consuming and labor-intensive. 1
Specific high-profile disputes involving both parties have also emerged. Jeff Crank, a Republican candidate in Colorado, faces allegations that he voted against releasing the files to protect Donald Trump. 1 Meanwhile, Republicans are attempting to shift public anger regarding the Epstein scandal back onto Democrats. Deb Haaland, a Democratic candidate in New Mexico, was accused of flying on Epstein’s private plane and accepting donations linked to him; however, she clarified that she only flew on flights booked by an Epstein company without knowing their connection to him. 1 In Georgia, Republican candidate Mike Collins countered accusations during debates by pointing out that his opponent, Jon Ossoff, received donations from Reid Hoffman, a tech billionaire with ties to Epstein. 1
Donald Trump’s shifting stance played a key role in the legislative context. Initially opposing the use of a petition to force the release of documents, Trump later supported the legislation under pressure, leading all but one House Republican to vote for the final act. 1 Despite this unified vote at the federal level, the ad war continues to intensify in local races, with Florida Senate candidates becoming the latest targets in the closing weeks of the campaign. 12
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