Bannon Warns GOP Could Lose 40 House Seats Over Epstein Files

Steve Bannon, a former White House aide, has warned that the Republican Party could lose up to 40 House seats in the 2026 midterm elections due to dissatisfaction within the MAGA base over the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Bannon argued that losing even 10 percent of the MAGA movement could jeopardize not only congressional majorities but also President Trump's chances in 2028, suggesting Democrats would benefit without needing to resort to election interference. The controversy centers on the Department of Justice and FBI's investigation, which concluded Epstein died by suicide and that no client list exists, a stance that contrasts with earlier claims by Attorney General Pam Bondi, who had suggested such a list was in her possession. This has led to infighting within the party and criticism from MAGA influencers and former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, with calls for the appointment of a special prosecutor to thoroughly investigate the Epstein client list and potential blackmail of powerful individuals. President Trump has defended Bondi and blamed previous administrations for creating the Epstein files, but the scandal continues to fuel conspiracies and discontent among core Republican supporters. The Epstein files controversy may thus pose a significant political risk to GOP lawmakers and the Trump presidency ahead of upcoming elections.