If Republican leaders in Washington had hoped that a month-long congressional recess would help the Jeffrey Epstein controversy die down, this week's frenzy of activity has dashed those hopes - at least for now.
Last Friday, the Justice Department released more than 33,000 pages of documents related to its Epstein investigation into child sex trafficking. By Monday, a consensus had formed that most of the information was already publicly available or of little interest.
Early in the week, Republican Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democrat Ro Khanna of California resumed their efforts to gather support for a discharge petition in the House of Representatives that would force a vote on publicly releasing the entirety of the government's Epstein case information.
On Wednesday, a group of Epstein victims and their families held a press conference on the steps of the Capitol to support the discharge petition and call for full disclosure in the Epstein case.
Taken together, it's the kind of drumbeat of attention that has helped the story break into the larger public's awareness. But will it stay there? Here are possible scenarios for what happens next.
The heat on Trump rises
The victims' press conference could mark a dramatic turn in the Epstein saga.
Missing from the Washington dialogue, which had focused on client lists and the possible involvement of the rich and powerful, were the faces of those whose lives were damaged or destroyed as children by Epstein's crimes.
The gathering at the Capitol put those victims front and centre - with an added promise that they would not be silenced.
Donald Trump has for months tried to brush off the criticisms of his administration's handling of the Epstein case as a hoax perpetrated by his political enemies.
That strategy, while effective in the past, is becoming harder in this case.
And if Massie and Khanna succeed in forcing a House vote to publicly release all remaining Epstein files - particularly if there is new, politically damaging information involving Trump - the fallout could be severe.
The White House has denied a report that Trump was told in May by his attorney general that his name appeared in files related to the investigations against Epstein, who took his own life in prison awaiting trial.
Even if no incriminating client list surfaces, the victims may create one themselves. They've promised to gather names of those they accuse of having close ties to Epstein.
As Congress readies for a critical midterm election, a top Republican noted, I'm not afraid to name names, showing a willingness to confront the powerful.
It rumbles on but little damage
Alternatively, it’s possible that nothing of significance emerges from the new Epstein documents. If the congressional push for transparency falters, the Epstein controversy could simmer but not explode into chaos.
The Trump administration would remain intact, viewed as a transient distraction rather than a long-term threat. This situation would allow the Republican Party to focus on their electoral strategies without an ongoing damaging narrative hindering their message.
As Trump himself remarked, addressing conspiracy theories reminiscent of past political scandals, it often becomes hard to quash such narratives: We gave them everything over and over again, and nobody is satisfied.
Fade to black, scandal subsides
Ultimately, history shows that Trump has a remarkable ability to weather storms of public outrage and controversy.
While the Epstein controversy involves serious allegations, it may follow a familiar trajectory as public interest fades. Without substantive revelations, the narrative could lose steam or be overshadowed by the next big scandal that captures headlines.
This cycle reflects a wider trend within modern American politics, wherein even scandalous issues may dissipate from mainstream discourse, settled within the murky corridors of online conspiracy theories.
As with many controversies of the past, the Epstein scandal may become just another fleeting moment in the political landscape, with lingering questions of justice remaining unresolved.
