'Eating themselves alive': Fmr. GOP advisor says Dems ‘struck gold’ as GOP splinters over Epstein

Congressional Investigations & Legal Actions - The House Oversight Committee is issuing subpoenas to the DOJ for unredacted files related to Epstein and to Ghislaine Maxwell for a deposition [1][2] - The DOJ also wants to interview Maxwell [3] Political Landscape & Republican Party Dynamics - Part of the Republican party is determined to pursue the Epstein issue, defying party leadership [4] - Multiple committees are struggling to manage the issue, as any amendments from Democrats could lead to vote losses [5] - Republicans need to latch onto something to satisfy their base, who may not be satisfied until alleged Democratic involvement is proven [7][8] - Sending the House home early may not quell the issue, as voters will demand action [9] Impact on Elections & Trump's Influence - Conspiracy theories can undermine trust and potentially reduce voter turnout in midterms and beyond, potentially leading to Democratic wins [11][12] - The Republican party under Trump has embraced conspiracy theories, but they may be backfiring [13][14] - Republicans struggle in elections without Donald Trump on the ballot, as his coalition relies on low-propensity voters [14][17] - The Epstein issue could depress Republican voter turnout in midterm elections [19][20]