Epstein’s Shadow Won’t Fade: Why Trump Can’t Escape the Scandal

President Donald Trump may wish Americans would “get on to something else,” but the Epstein files refuse to vanish from the national conversation. As Brendan Reichard explains in The Dartmouth, this isn’t just a matter of news cycles or fleeting outrage. It’s about the unique nature of the Epstein scandal and what it reveals about power and accountability in America.

Public confidence in Trump has dropped sharply, including among his own Republican base. While many issues rise and fall in public attention—think of the war in Ukraine, which dominated headlines before receding despite worsening conditions—the Epstein case breaks the mold. Reichard points to two key reasons.

First, unlike environmental or economic crises that demand personal sacrifices from citizens, pursuing justice for Epstein’s victims costs the average American nothing. The only people who stand to lose are the guilty and their enablers. This makes the scandal an easy cause to support without inconvenience, sustaining public interest.

Second, the Epstein files carry a dark fascination. The idea that America’s elite were enmeshed in a vast sex trafficking ring is horrifying yet irresistible. The ongoing drip of new revelations plays out like a serialized drama, with each batch of documents promising fresh names and sinister details. The heavy redactions only add to the mystique, keeping audiences hooked.

Trump’s usual distractions—like the fleeting spectacle of capturing Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro—fail to hold attention because they lack lasting impact on everyday Americans. Epstein, by contrast, touches on deep issues of corruption, abuse, and impunity that resonate widely.

But Reichard warns that attention alone is not enough. Political “hobbyism”—consuming scandal as entertainment without pushing for change—risks reducing justice to a spectator sport. Despite some progress, including the Epstein Files Transparency Act and arrests abroad, the U.S. justice system remains sluggish, with key files still unlawfully redacted and no new domestic arrests.

The call to action is clear. Reichard urges turning outrage into activism—protesting, writing to representatives, and demanding accountability. At Dartmouth, this includes calls to rename the Black Family Visual Arts Center, given Leon Black’s Epstein-linked controversies and assault allegations.

The Epstein scandal is not just a story to watch. It is a test of whether America will confront the rot at its core or let it fester behind closed doors. We can no longer afford to be mere consumers of this grim saga. The victims deserve more than our attention—they deserve justice.