A recent poll reveals that a majority of registered voters are dissatisfied with President Trump’s management of documents related to the late investor and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Emerson College survey, released on Friday, shows that 51% of respondents disapprove of how the Epstein files have been handled. Only 16% expressed approval, and about a third remained neutral. This comes amid ongoing controversy since the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it would not disclose additional files linked to Epstein’s cases.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump called for the release of documents pertaining to allegations tied to a “client list.” Shortly after taking office, he signed an executive order aimed at protecting certain federal secrets. Attorney General Pam Bondy noted in February that the list was under review.
However, the DOJ has faced significant scrutiny, even from Trump’s supporters, particularly after a memo was released earlier this month claiming Epstein died by suicide in 2019 and that his client list was never maintained. Epstein took his own life while in custody awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges, though conspiracy theories about his death suggesting murder have gained traction.
Since Epstein’s death, various assessments have been made regarding the circumstances surrounding it.
The DOJ also stated it would withhold further information from the file to protect the identities of alleged victims. Dan Bongino, the deputy FBI director, asserted that there was more to Epstein’s story, indicating that the government acknowledged this and reaffirmed that Epstein had committed suicide.
This situation has pleased many Trump supporters who have been advocating for the documents’ release, whereas Democrats have also entered the conversation, pushing for transparency as Trump’s administration faces continued inquiries.
Complicating matters for Trump, a report from the Wall Street Journal indicated that Bondy mentioned his name multiple times in documents associated with Epstein, alongside several other notable figures. It’s essential to note that being named in such files isn’t conclusive proof of wrongdoing.
Trump has expressed frustration over the focus on these documents, suggesting that he might be attempting to divert attention from past controversies through the discussion of ongoing investigations.
Emerson’s findings align with other polling results, such as those from Reuters Ipsos and Quinnipiac University, which indicate widespread dissatisfaction regarding how Trump’s files were handled.
Interestingly, the poll also found that 42% of participants believe Epstein was murdered, while only 20% think he committed suicide; 38% were uncertain. It’s worth mentioning that the belief in foul play has decreased slightly compared to five years ago.
The poll was conducted from July 21 to 22, surveying 1,400 registered voters, with a margin of error of 2.5 points.
