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Trone Garriott Criticized Nunn Over Epstein File Votes

Sarah Trone Garriott toured a Des Moines exhibit while highlighting Rep. Zach Nunn’s legislative record on the Epstein files.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Elections

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Sarah Trone Garriott criticized Rep. Zach Nunn this week for his past legislative opposition to the public release of the Epstein files. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Sarah Trone Garriott recently toured an exhibit in Des Moines displaying the 3.5 million pages of the Epstein files. During the visit, she criticized Representative Zach Nunn for his past opposition to legislative efforts aimed at releasing the documents.

Why it matters

The disclosure of these documents has become a significant political issue, with a recent survey indicating that 60% of American voters consider a candidate's stance on the release of these files a key factor in their decision-making process.

Rep. Zach Nunn received over $50,000 in campaign contributions from individuals named in the Epstein files. While he opposed early efforts to release the records, the House ultimately passed a measure to do so by a 427-1 vote in November 2025.

The players

Sarah Trone Garriott

Sarah Trone Garriott is a political candidate who has used her campaign platform to scrutinize the legislative history of her opponent.

Zach Nunn

Zach Nunn is the U.S. Representative for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District who has faced criticism for his voting record on document transparency.

The details

Trone Garriott highlighted that Nunn blocked a Democratic effort to force the Attorney General to release the files and supported a House Oversight committee inquiry that tabled the matter in September 2025. Additionally, Nunn reportedly declined to sign two bipartisan discharge petitions that would have forced a floor vote on the issue without leadership approval.

Timeline

  1. July 2025: Rep. Zach Nunn voted against amendments to release the files.

  2. September 2025: Nunn supported an inquiry that tabled a file release rule.

  3. November 2025: The House passed a measure to release the files by a 427-1 vote.

  4. March 2026: Lincoln Park Strategies conducted a survey on voter priorities.

  5. September 22, 2026: Trone Garriott toured the Epstein files exhibit in Des Moines.

Political Context

The use of discharge petitions to force a floor vote highlights the ongoing tension between rank-and-file members and House leadership. Opponents of this critique maintain that such legislative maneuvers circumvent the regular committee process and established party oversight.

Voters in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District may see this issue heavily featured in campaign advertising as the election approaches. This conflict impacts taxpayers by highlighting how legislative transparency and campaign funding disclosure are currently being debated at the federal level.

The takeaway

Voters are increasingly demanding greater transparency regarding the financial and legislative associations of their elected officials. Evaluating a candidate's legislative record on disclosure requirements can provide voters with clarity before heading to the polls.

Further reading

For more background on the competitive landscape of the state, visit the Iowa Elections section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Iowa Starting Line.

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Should a candidate's voting record on public disclosure of criminal files influence your vote?