During Mr. Trump's first term, his labor secretary, Alexander Acosta, resigned following criticism of his handling of Epstein's 2008 plea deal when he was a federal prosecutor in Florida. Epstein served 13 months in a jail work-release program after he was originally accused of sexually abusing dozens of girls and young women.

The House left a day early for a summer break that Sen. Chuck Schumer has dubbed "the Epstein recess" as Democrats try to capitalize on a major pain point for Republicans.

The lesson for Democrats is that they should force confrontations, especially when they drive a wedge into the GOP base.