Full Breakdown
Mock GOP Convention Website Redirects to DOJ Epstein Files
9/6/2026, 12:15:47 AM
Website Prank Redirects Visitors to Epstein Files
On September 4, the domain gopdallas2026.com—designed to resemble the official site for the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention—began sending users to the Justice Department’s online “Epstein Files” reading room. The site displayed a Dallas-based background image and a prompt for contact information before the automatic redirect. Search-engine results placed the spoof near the top for queries about the September 9-10 convention.
Background & Context
The Republican National Committee (RNC) announced that the convention will be held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on September 9 and 10, marking the party’s inaugural midterm gathering. President Donald Trump is slated to speak both nights as the GOP seeks to retain its House and Senate majorities. Meanwhile, the “Epstein Files” reading room—a mobile exhibit containing roughly 3.5 million pages of documents released by the Department of Justice—has been scheduled to travel to Dallas from September 8 to 12, a move intended to keep pressure on the Trump administration regarding the long-standing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s activities.
Official Statements & Responses
The Republican Party quickly denounced the spoof on social media, directing users to the official site GOPConvention.com and labeling the incident “FAKE NEWS.” Democratic Representative Ted Lieu of California highlighted the prank, noting the site’s description was accurate and describing the discovery as “something funky is going on.”
Data & Statistics
- September 4 – Spoof site’s redirect to DOJ files becomes widely noticed.
- September 8-12 – Washington Examiner reports the Epstein reading room and bookmobile will be in Dallas.
- September 9-10 – Scheduled dates for the GOP midterm convention at the American Airlines Center.
- The reading room holds an estimated 3.5 million pages of previously released documents.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I just tried the website and the below description, as of right now, is accurate,” — Representative Ted Lieu, of California seized on reports of the purported convention website — Representative Ted Lieu, of California seized on reports of the purported convention website.
