President Donald Trump has been unable to quell the storm surrounding his possible ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Accusations of sex with minors, sex trafficking, and other serious allegations continue to fuel the scandal—especially as officials in his administration struggle, day by day, to shield him from potential fallout.
With each passing day, more names of politicians allegedly connected to Epstein emerge—from former presidents to powerful businessmen, and, indeed, members of the most influential groups driving the nation.
X (formerly Twitter) has exploded with activity. Thousands of posts debate the controversy and circulate information that further implicates the president and other officials.
The intersection of politics and sexual misconduct is not new. Dozens of politicians have faced accusations or prosecution over the years. Yet few speak openly about it, and some perhaps accept it as an unfortunate norm. The film She Said, which addressed sexual harassment in Hollywood, may have marked a turning point—but it’s likely just the beginning. More and more cases will continue to expose this corrupt and malicious world.
Are we ready to confront it?
147 lawmakers in 44 states accused of sexual harassment or misconduct since 2017
Virginia lawmaker Jackie Glass said she got a “safety brief” when she joined the Legislature.
“I was told who not to go drink with, who not to be alone with and who to just watch out for,” she said on the Statehouse floor in 2024. Addressing the male House speaker, she said, “I don’t think you got that brief.”
The Democrat was discussing a pervasive culture of sexual misconduct in the Statehouse, something that remains despite the #MeToo movement hitting critical mass in 2017.
The movement toppled politicians, celebrities and others across the country. Allegations of harassment and misconduct, some from many years prior, came to light — highlighting a toxic culture where such behavior was perhaps as rampant and accepted as the silence that buried it.
Many state legislatures responded by adopting or enhancing policies against sexual misconduct. As the number of female state lawmakers reaches new heights, some say statehouses are less of a “boys’ club.”
But allegations continue to surface — at the state level and beyond.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Glass questioned why she would encourage women to join the legislative ranks when it feels little has changed.
“I just don’t know how we keep women — and well, quite frankly, people — safe when it feels like it goes hand in hand with the work,” she said.
12 dozen lawmakers accused in 8 years
Since 2017, The Associated Press has cataloged at least 147 state lawmakers across 44 states who have been accused of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct.
Over a third resigned or were expelled from office and roughly another third faced repercussions, such as losing party or committee leadership positions. A dozen top state executive officials, including governors and attorneys general, also faced sexual misconduct allegations during that time, and most resigned.
The total includes allegations of incidents in state government and outside of it. That includes Minnesota Republican state Sen. Justin Eichorn, who resigned on Thursday after being charged with soliciting a minor for prostitution. A federal defender said Thursday that Eichorn was still in the process of hiring a private lawyer.
Most allegations were reported in the first two years of #MeToo, but more have emerged every year since.
In 2024 alone, the AP tallied at least 14 state lawmakers from a dozen states who were accused — about twice as many as the previous year.
According to the National Women’s Defense League, which advocates for sexual harassment policies in statehouses and keeps its own count, Republicans and Democrats are nearly equally accused and 94% of those overall are men.
