<p>But select Democrats, too, are being accused of having ties to the late sex offender as country prepares to vote</p><p>In races across the country, Democratic candidates or groups that support them have released ads accusing <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/republicans">Republicans</a> of protecting pedophiles by voting against legislation to release files related to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>.</p><p>The ads appear intended to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/22/trump-epstein-tucker-carlson-turning-point-usa">evoke an emotional response </a>by accusing candidates of “protecting” Epstein, a notorious pedophile accused of running a sex-trafficking ring involving minors.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/31/political-ads-midterms-epstein-republican-candidate">Continue reading...</a>