Poll: Americans Say Epstein Files Protect Powerful/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds most Americans believe the Epstein files show powerful people rarely face consequences. Nearly 7 in 10 respondents say the documents reinforce perceptions of elite impunity. While bipartisan distrust is high, Republicans and Democrats differ on whether it’s time to move on.
Epstein Files Accountability Poll Quick Looks
- 69% say files show powerful rarely held accountable
- Over 80% of both Republicans and Democrats agree at least somewhat
- Poll surveyed 1,117 U.S. adults nationwide
- Margin of error: 3 percentage points
- GOP more likely to say it’s time to move on
- DOJ released millions of Epstein-related records
Deep Look: Poll: Americans Say Epstein Files Protect Powerful
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds that a broad majority of Americans believe recently released documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein reinforce the perception that powerful individuals in the United States are seldom held accountable for misconduct.
The nationwide survey, conducted online among 1,117 adults and concluding Monday, found that 69% of respondents said their views were described “very well” or “extremely well” by the statement that the Epstein files demonstrate powerful people are rarely held responsible for their actions. Another 17% said the statement reflected their thinking “somewhat well,” while 11% disagreed.
The findings suggest bipartisan skepticism about accountability among elites. More than 80% of both Republicans and Democrats said the statement matched their views at least somewhat well, underscoring widespread distrust across party lines.
The poll follows the Justice Department’s release of millions of records detailing Epstein’s connections to prominent figures in politics, business, academia and finance. The documents span years before and after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea in Florida on prostitution-related charges, including soliciting an underage girl.
Epstein was arrested again in 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors. He died in a Manhattan jail cell later that year in what authorities ruled a suicide, a conclusion that has continued to spark controversy and speculation.
The disclosures have created political pressure for President Donald Trump, who had longstanding social ties to Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s. Trump has denied knowledge of Epstein’s criminal conduct and has said he severed contact before the financier’s plea deal.
While public sentiment appears unified in its belief that elites are rarely punished, Americans are more divided on whether the country should continue focusing on the Epstein case.
When asked whether it is time to move on from discussing the Epstein files, 67% of Republican respondents said the statement reflected their thinking at least somewhat well. Among Democrats, only 21% agreed. The partisan divide suggests that while distrust is broadly shared, views differ on how long the political and media spotlight should remain on the matter.
The Justice Department releases have already led to professional consequences for some high-profile figures. Executives at Goldman Sachs and Hyatt Hotels have resigned following scrutiny tied to the document disclosures.
Other prominent officials named in the materials have remained in their roles. Emails included in the released files indicate that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick visited Epstein’s private island in 2012 and invited him to a political fundraiser in 2015. Separately, documents show that Mehmet Oz, now serving as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, invited Epstein to a 2016 Valentine’s Day event.
Neither Lutnick nor Oz has been accused of wrongdoing in connection with the disclosures.
The Epstein case has remained a flashpoint in American political discourse, particularly as critics argue that the full extent of his network and influence has yet to be fully exposed. Supporters of additional transparency have called for continued document releases, while others say the focus should shift to other national priorities.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll, which has a margin of error of three percentage points, reflects a broader climate of skepticism toward institutions and authority figures. Trust in government and corporate leadership has remained low in recent years, and the Epstein disclosures appear to have reinforced concerns that wealth and status can shield individuals from consequences.
As legal proceedings and document reviews continue, public opinion suggests that many Americans see the Epstein files not only as a record of one man’s crimes but as a broader symbol of inequality in the application of justice.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.