---
title: "Fake GOP Convention Site Redirects to Epstein Files"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/fake-gop-convention-site-redirects-to-epstein-files"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/fake-gop-convention-site-redirects-to-epstein-files"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/fake-gop-convention-site-redirects-to-epstein-files.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/fake-gop-convention-site-redirects-to-epstein-files"
category: "Politics"
area: "United States"
published: "2026-09-06T00:05:30.574Z"
source_reported: "2026-09-05T19:17:06.000Z"
updated: "2026-09-06T00:05:30.574Z"
trust_score: 42
critic_score: 61
hype_score: 41
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-09-06T01:15:37.157032+00:00"
---

# Fake GOP Convention Site Redirects to Epstein Files

*A mock website for the Republican Party's midterm convention appeared at the top of Google searches, leading to the Department of Justice's Epstein files.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to multiple outlets and the website's disclaimer is quoted.
- Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. The reporting clearly separates fact from comment and provides specific details about the website and its content.
- Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. The headline uses loaded adjectives like 'chaos' and 'mercilessly mocked' which are not fully supported by the reporting.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- A mock website, gopdallas2026.com, appeared as a top Google search result for the Republican Party's upcoming midterm convention.
- Users who clicked the mock website were redirected to the Department of Justice's website for the Jeffrey Epstein files.
- The Republican Party denounced the website as 'FAKE NEWS' and directed visitors to the official GOPConvention.com.
- Democratic lawmakers used the incident to revive discussion of the Epstein Files.

A mock website, gopdallas2026.com, appeared as a top Google search result for the Republican Party's upcoming midterm convention in Dallas. For hours on Friday, the site offered details about the convention but redirected users to the Department of Justice's website for the Jeffrey Epstein files. The Republican Party quickly denounced the website on social media, calling it 'FAKE NEWS' and directing visitors to the official GOPConvention.com.

Democratic lawmakers used the incident to revive discussion of the Epstein Files. Representative Ted Lieu shared a message stating that the redirect was accurate and described it as 'Sort of awesome.' The mock website included a disclaimer stating it was not affiliated with the Republican National Committee.

## Disagreement on website origin

The Independent (US) and The Independent reported that it was unclear who created the site, but the Republican National Committee blamed Democrats. Al Jazeera stated that it was unclear when the redirect first appeared or who was responsible for its creation.

## What the coverage left out

None of the left-rated digests mention the disclaimer on the mock website stating it was not affiliated with the Republican National Committee. None of the right-rated digests mention the Republican Party's statement that the website was 'FAKE NEWS' or that Democratic lawmakers used the incident to revive discussion of the Epstein Files.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 27 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 59% (16)
- Centre: 34% (9)
- Right: 7% (2)

4 of 31 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-06T01:15:37.157032+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-06T01:45:23.675Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Left-rated reports focused on the redirection to the Epstein files and the political implications. Al Jazeera highlighted Democratic lawmakers' use of the incident to revive discussion of the Epstein Files, noting President Donald Trump's connection to Epstein and the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The Independent (US) and The Independent reported that the Republican National Committee blamed Democrats for the site. Raw Story described the situation as 'GOP convention chaos' and noted that the imposter site sent 'MAGA die-hards to Epstein files.' NBC outlets (Chicago, Boston, Connecticut, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Dallas-Fort Worth) and others like The Daily Boulder and Daily Kos also reported the redirection to the Epstein files, with some noting the unclear origin of the site.

### Centre

- Centre-rated reports focused on the redirection to the Epstein files and the Republican Party's response. West Hawaii Today noted that someone seemed intent on making sure voters did not forget about the Epstein files. The Daily Hodl reported that Republicans called coverage 'fake news' while Democrats highlighted the prank. Political Wire stated that 'Internet pranksters' had redirected people searching for the convention to the Epstein Files. NBC Chicago, KRIV, KTBC, and D Magazine also reported on the mock website redirecting to the Epstein files, with D Magazine calling the situation 'Despicable. Deplorable.'

### Right

- Right-rated reports focused on the mock website and its redirection to the Epstein files. The Washington Examiner reported that a website posing as an informational site for the Republican National Committee's convention was redirecting users to the Justice Department's Epstein files website. The Western Journal reported that Google was sending people to the Epstein site through a fake GOP midterm convention link.

**Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- mixed: 6
- high: 12
- unknown: 4
- veryHigh: 9

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/republican-convention-epstein-files-prankster-b3045331.html) — Prankster built GOP convention lookalike website that sends users to Epstein files
- [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/republican-convention-epstein-files-prankster-b3045331.html) — Prankster built GOP convention lookalike website that sends users to Epstein files
- [West Hawaii Today](https://westhawaiitoday.com/2026/09/05/nation-world-news/fake-version-of-republican-midterm-convention-website-redirects-to-epstein-files) — Fake version of Republican midterm convention website redirects to Epstein files
- [The Daily Hodl](https://dailyhodl.com/2026/09/05/fake-gop-convention-site-tops-google-redirects-to-epstein-files) — Fake GOP Convention Site Tops Google, Redirects to Epstein Files
- [La Voce di New York](https://lavocedinewyork.com/news/2026/09/05/convention-repubblicana-il-sito-fake-dirotta-gli-utenti-sugli-epstein-files) — Republican Convention, the Fake Site Hijacks Users on Epstein Files
- [National Cyber Security](https://nationalcybersecurity.com/so-that-rnc-convention-site-wasnt-hacked-it-was-fake-hacking-cybersecurity-infosec-comptia-pentest-hacker-2) — So that RNC convention site wasn't hacked. It was fake. | #hacking | #cybersecurity | #infosec | #comptia | #pentest | #hacker - National Cyber Security Consulting
- [The Nerd Stash](https://thenerdstash.com/texas-republican-convention-mercilessly-mocked-by-spoof-website-leading-to-epstein-files-kudos-to-the-patriot-that-made-this-happen) — Texas Republican Convention Mercilessly Mocked by Spoof Website Leading to Epstein Files: 'Kudos to the Patriot That Made This Happen'
- [The Daily Boulder](https://dailyboulder.com/fake-gop-convention-website-sends-visitors-straight-to-dojs-epstein-files) — Fake GOP convention website sends visitors straight to DOJ’s Epstein files.
- [Al Jazeera](https://aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/4/mock-republican-convention-website-redirects-users-to-epstein-files) — Mock Republican convention website tops Google, redirects to Epstein files
- [Political Wire](https://politicalwire.com/2026/09/04/gop-convention-googlers-sent-to-info-on-the-epstein-files) — GOP Convention Googlers Sent to Info On the Epstein Files
- [Daily Kos](https://dailykos.com/stories/2026/9/4/800094106/community/breaking-gop-convention-website-redirects-to-epstein-files) — GOP Convention website redirects to Epstein Files
- [Raw Story](https://rawstory.com/gop-convention-trolling) — GOP convention chaos as imposter site sends MAGA die-hards to Epstein files
- [Washington Examiner](https://washingtonexaminer.com/news/justice/4714331/fake-rnc-midterm-convention-doj-epstein-files) — Fake RNC midterm convention link reroutes to DOJ Epstein files website
- [NewsFinale](https://newsfinale.com/news/daily-mail-exposes-alleged-scheme-targeting-trumps-republican-convention) — Daily Mail Exposes Alleged Scheme Targeting Trump’s Republican Convention
- [dailymail.com](https://dailymail.com/news/article-16103581/Republican-convention-site-exposed-disinformation-campaign-Obama.html) — Scheme targeting Trump's Republican convention exposed by Daily Mail
- [NBC Boston](https://nbcboston.com/news/national-international/fake-republican-midterm-convention-website-redirect-doj-epstein-files/4009932) — Fake RNC Midterm convention website redirects to DOJ Epstein files
- [NBC Connecticut](https://nbcconnecticut.com/news/national-international/fake-republican-midterm-convention-website-redirect-doj-epstein-files/3771966) — Fake RNC Midterm convention website redirects to DOJ Epstein files
- [NBC Miami](https://nbcmiami.com/news/national-international/fake-republican-midterm-convention-website-redirect-doj-epstein-files/3855100) — Fake RNC Midterm convention website redirects to DOJ Epstein files
- [NBC New York](https://nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/fake-republican-midterm-convention-website-redirect-doj-epstein-files/6544137) — Fake RNC Midterm convention website redirects to DOJ Epstein files
- [NBC Philadelphia](https://nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/fake-republican-midterm-convention-website-redirect-doj-epstein-files/4458583) — Fake RNC midterm convention website redirects to DOJ Epstein files
- [NBC Washington](https://nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/fake-republican-midterm-convention-website-redirect-doj-epstein-files/4150522) — Fake RNC Midterm convention website redirects to DOJ Epstein files
- [The Western Journal](https://westernjournal.com/google-sending-people-jeffrey-epstein-site-fake-gop-midterm-convention-link) — Google is Sending People to Jeffrey Epstein Site Through Fake GOP Midterm Convention Link
- [NBC Chicago](https://nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/fake-republican-midterm-convention-website-redirect-doj-epstein-files/3985072) — Fake RNC Midterm convention website redirects to DOJ Epstein files
- [NBC Dallas-Fort Worth](https://nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/fake-republican-midterm-convention-website-redirect-doj-epstein-files/4072935) — Fake RNC Midterm convention website redirects to DOJ Epstein files
- [KDFW](https://fox4news.com/news/fake-dallas-gop-convention-website-sends-people-epstein-files) — Fake Dallas GOP convention website sends people to Epstein files
- [KRIV](https://fox26houston.com/news/fake-dallas-gop-convention-website-sends-people-epstein-files) — Fake Dallas GOP convention website sends people to Epstein files
- [KTBC](https://fox7austin.com/news/fake-dallas-gop-convention-website-sends-people-epstein-files) — Fake Dallas GOP convention website sends people to Epstein files
- [Showbiz411](https://showbiz411.com/2026/09/04/lol-website-for-next-weeks-3-day-republican-midterm-convention-hacked-brings-up-epstein-file-search-instead) — LOL: Website for Next Week's 3 Day Republican Midterm Convention Hacked, Brings Up Epstein File Search Instead
- [D Magazine](https://dmagazine.com/micropost/trump-midterm-convention-website-hacked) — Trump midterm convention website hacked
- [NBC LA](https://nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/fake-republican-midterm-convention-website-redirect-doj-epstein-files/3937726) — Fake RNC Midterm convention website redirects to DOJ Epstein files
- [NBC Bay Area](https://nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/fake-republican-midterm-convention-website-redirect-doj-epstein-files/4138137) — Fake RNC Midterm convention website redirects to DOJ Epstein files

## Questions

**What was the mock website for?**

The mock website, gopdallas2026.com, was designed to resemble the official site for the Republican Party's upcoming midterm convention in Dallas. It appeared as a top search result on Google for convention-related terms.

**Where did the mock website redirect users?**

Users who clicked on the mock website were redirected to the Department of Justice's website dedicated to the files of Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.

**What was the Republican Party's response?**

The Republican Party denounced the mock website on social media, labeling it 'FAKE NEWS' and directing visitors to the official convention website, GOPConvention.com.

**Who created the mock website?**

It is unclear who created the mock website. Some reports suggest the Republican National Committee blamed Democrats, while others state the origin remains unknown.

---

MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/fake-gop-convention-site-redirects-to-epstein-files. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Fake GOP Convention Site Redirects to Epstein Files", https://mediabias.news/politics/fake-gop-convention-site-redirects-to-epstein-files