Democrats Attack GOP Over Epstein Files, But Slotkin Once Brushed Off Issue

Democrats are using the Jeffrey Epstein controversy as a political cudgel against Republicans, accusing the Trump administration of withholding key documents. Yet one of their leading voices, Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), once dismissed the issue as unimportant, calling it a distraction during her time in the House.

Slotkin recently told PBS’ Firing Line that she found it “weird” that President Donald Trump hasn’t released Epstein-related files. “The president and his allies have created so much anticipation about these files at this point, it's just weird that they're not releasing them, right? The president fomented this,” she said.

However, a resurfaced video from 2020 paints a different picture of Slotkin’s stance. When pressed at the time about Bill Clinton’s connections to Epstein, Slotkin said the topic was not “front of mind,” claiming she was focused on issues like COVID-19 and economic fallout.

“In the face of those problems, I will be honest, I don't spend a ton of time looking into connections between Bill Clinton and other people, because that doesn't help my constituents every single day,” Slotkin said. “My job is to focus on those issues… I can’t answer your question, because that’s not where I live and where I focus.”

The political shift

• Slotkin has since become a prominent Senate voice, sharply criticizing the Trump administration over Epstein documents.

• Republicans have highlighted her 2020 comments as evidence that Democrats are weaponizing the issue for political gain.

• The controversy comes after a Justice Department memo declared the Epstein case “closed,” sparking bipartisan demands for transparency.

Congressional tensions over Epstein have paralyzed parts of Capitol Hill this summer. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) even dismissed lawmakers early amid mounting pressure to release the so-called “Epstein files.” While the House has descended into chaos over the issue, Senate Democrats like Slotkin have ramped up calls for disclosure.

Republicans argue the Left’s sudden interest in Epstein is disingenuous. “Where were they when Biden was in office? Where was this energy five years ago when Bill Clinton’s name kept coming up?” one GOP aide told Fox News Digital.

Slotkin’s office has not responded to requests for comment on her past remarks.

As the fight over Epstein’s files drags on, Democrats are betting that public outrage over the convicted sex offender’s network of connections will politically damage Republicans. But the resurfacing of Slotkin’s comments underscores the risk of appearing selective or opportunistic in demanding accountability.

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