Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
· collected 2026-09-04 · by Al Jazeera Staff
A mock website pretending to be the official site of the Republican Party's 2026 midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, has been circulating online, directing users to the Department of Justice's Epstein Files instead. The fake website, gopdallas2026.com, was briefly at the top of Google search results on Friday and prompted visitors to input their contact information for "exclusive updates" before redirecting them to the Epstein files. The Republican Party has denounced the website as "FAKE NEWS", pointing users towards the official GOPConvention.com site instead. Democratic lawmakers are using this prank to revive discussion about the handling of the Epstein Files, which has been a source of criticism for the Trump administration.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
A mock website that directs users to the Epstein Files appears to be the primary search result on Google for the Republican Party’s upcoming midterm convention in Dallas, Texas.
asserted
that → direct → Dallas
For hours on Friday, the website gopdallas2026.com soared to the top of the search results, with preview text that offered viewers the chance to “discover details about the 2026 RNC [Republican National Committee] Midterm Convention”.
asserted
that → soar → Convention
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asserted
Mexico → sue → probe
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asserted
Bondi → testify → probe
But users who clicked on the website were immediately taken to the Department of Justice’s website for the files about notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
asserted
who → click → Epstein
The Republican Party quickly denounced the website on social media, pointing visitors instead to GOPConvention.com for the official site.
asserted
Party → denounce → site
“FAKE NEWS!” the party wrote of the reports circulating on social media that the fake website was the real one.
asserted
website → write → media
Democratic lawmakers used the prank to revive discussion of the Epstein Files, which has been a long-running source of criticism for the administration of President Donald Trump, a speaker at the two-day convention.
asserted
which → use → convention
Trump officials have been accused of mishandling the files’ release, which was mandated within 30 days under November’s Epstein Files Transparency Act.
asserted
which → accuse → Act
Some critics have pointed out that certain records published by the Justice Department appear unnecessarily redacted, while others reveal the identities of victims.
asserted
others → point → victims
Trump has also faced scrutiny for his personal relationship with Epstein, which he says ended decades ago.
asserted
he → face → Epstein
There has long been speculation, however, that powerful figures in Epstein’s orbit turned a blind eye to his crimes.
asserted
figures → turn → crimes
He was convicted in 2008 of soliciting a minor, and he faced sex-trafficking charges at the time of his death in 2019.
asserted
he → convict → 2019
His victims are thought to number in the hundreds.
asserted
victims → think → hundreds
Democratic lawmakers like Representative Ted Lieu of California seized on reports of the purported convention website.
asserted
lawmakers → seize → website
He shared a message from reporter Jake Lahut saying that “something funky is going on”.
asserted
something → share → Lahut
“I just tried the website and the below description, as of right now, is accurate,” Lieu said in response to Lahut.
asserted
Lieu → try → Lahut
According to documentation from the Internet Archive, which captures snapshots of past websites, gopdallas2026.com used to include a background photo displaying the American Airlines Center in Dallas, the site of the upcoming midterm convention.
uncertain
gopdallas2026.com → accord → convention
The centre of the website prompted users to input their contact information to “get exclusive updates”.
asserted
centre → prompt → updates
But, in small text at the bottom, the website included a caveat that it was not the official source for information related to the midterm convention.
asserted
it → include → convention
“This website is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Republican National Committee (RNC), the 2026 RNC Midterm Convention, the American Airlines Center, or any official convention entity,” it said.
asserted
it → affiliate → Committee
This month’s event is the first-ever midterm convention hosted by the Republican Party.
asserted
event → host → Party
It is slated to take place from September 9 to 10.
asserted
It → slat → 10
A press release from the Republican National Committee indicates that the event is expected to be the party’s largest convention since 2016.
asserted
event → indicate → 2016
Trump is reportedly slated to speak on both nights, as he tries to rouse enthusiasm for his party ahead of the November midterm elections.
uncertain
he → slat → elections
Republicans hope to hold onto their majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate as Trump’s popularity slides to new lows amid continued fallout from the war on Iran.
asserted
popularity → hope → Iran
“Never before in history has any major party held a midterm convention, and President Trump wants to focus in on that and open this up to the American people, because all of his work has been about improving their lives,” RNC spokesperson Zach Kraft said in an interview with CBS Texas.
asserted
Kraft → hold → Texas
Democrats, however, held national midterm party conferences in 1974, 1978 and 1982.
asserted
Democrats → hold → 1974
“So, he wants them to be able to have an opportunity to attend this event and hear from him directly.”
asserted
them → want → him
