By Ricky Dana, Candidate for US House, Missouri-4
Mark “Awful for Missouri” Alford wants you to believe he’s fighting for truth and transparency. Just last month, he made headlines calling for the full release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, sounding like a champion of open government. He said he wanted “complete and total transparency” and made it clear he thought the public deserved answers.
But here’s the problem—when the time came to actually vote, Alford did the exact opposite. A Democratic amendment that would have forced the release of the Epstein files came to the floor. Instead of standing up for transparency like he promised, Alford joined virtually every other Republican in voting against the procedural steps needed to make it happen.
This isn’t just a small oversight—it’s a clear pattern. Alford’s public statements and his legislative actions don’t match. On one hand, he says what sounds good to voters—especially when the cameras are rolling. On the other, when it’s time to deliver, he falls in line with party leadership, super PAC agendas, and big-money interests.
Let’s be clear: Alford’s rhetoric supported the release of the files. His vote blocked it. He can try to spin it all he wants, but there’s no getting around the fact that his actions kept those documents locked away.
I was born right here in the Show-Me State, and like most Missourians, I don’t trust a politician who says one thing at home and does another in Washington. Mark Alford spent his career in front of a camera reading from a teleprompter, weaving tales like every other polished news anchor. Now, he’s doing the same thing in Congress—feeding voters lines while protecting the status quo in D.C.
His “Excuse” — What’s the Explanation?
Here’s the kicker: Mark “Awful for Missouri” Alford hasn’t offered one. No press release, interview, or social media post followed his vote to explain the glaring contradiction between his words and his deeds.
He made a high-profile call for “complete and total transparency” and warned that this “unfortunate sideshow” should not tarnish President Trump’s legacy. But when it came time to back that up with action, he fell silent—choosing party loyalty over Missourians’ right to know. There’s simply no excuse when the spotlight fades but the secrecy remains.
Missourians deserve leaders who show up for us every time, not just when it’s politically convenient. Alford needs to explain why he sided with party bosses instead of standing with the people he claims to represent. Until then, all the sound bites in the world won’t change the fact that when Missouri needed him to act, he chose to protect secrecy over transparency.
When I’m elected as your congressman, I won’t just talk about transparency—I’ll vote for it. Every time. Because in Missouri, we still believe actions speak louder than words.
Sources:
Missouri Republicans call for transparency into Jeffrey Epstein investigation
House Republicans vote to block Epstein files
Who voted to block Epstein files: Full list of Republicans
Missouri Independent: Missouri Republicans call for transparency into Jeffrey Epstein investigation
