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Newly released Epstein-related records — including materials provided by the Justice Department and published by congressional investigators — show that fundraisers working for top Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, solicited Jeffrey Epstein for campaign donations and access to fundraising events years after his 2008 conviction as a registered sex offender.
According to The Washington Times, documents show that political fundraising firm Dynamic SRG, led by partner Darren Rigger, repeatedly reached out to Epstein on behalf of prominent Democratic lawmakers. A September 18, 2012 invitation labeled “Schumer Senate Candidate Reception” invited Epstein to an event supporting then-Rep. Martin Heinrich’s successful New Mexico Senate campaign, which fundraisers described as critical to Democratic efforts to maintain their Senate majority and support President Obama’s reelection.
The Times also reports that fundraisers sought Epstein’s support on behalf of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, then a House member, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. In May 2013, Rigger invited Epstein to a congressional fundraising dinner with President Obama on behalf of Jeffries, referring to the Brooklyn congressman as “one of the rising stars” in the New York delegation and “Brooklyn’s Barack.” Additional solicitations tied to Jeffries followed later that year.
Independent reporting has confirmed the existence of a 2013 fundraising outreach connected to Jeffries and Dynamic SRG. Jeffries has publicly denied knowledge of the outreach made in his name and said he never met Epstein. Federal Election Commission records show no donations from Epstein to Jeffries’ campaign.
As recently as July 2017, Epstein was invited to a dinner and meet-and-greet with Jeffries in St. Thomas, according to The Washington Times, which reported that the invitation was sent by the campaign of Virgin Islands Delegate Stacey Plaskett.
Separately, publicly released records show that Plaskett exchanged text messages with Epstein before and during a February 2019 House Oversight Committee hearing at which Michael Cohen testified. Her office has said she received input from multiple individuals at the time. After Epstein’s July 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges, Plaskett donated an amount equivalent to his past contributions to Virgin Islands organizations serving women and children.
Epstein had been a political donor dating back to the early 2000s. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, from 1989 through 2003 he contributed roughly $139,000 to Democratic federal candidates and about $18,000 to Republican candidates and groups. FEC records show that a joint fundraising committee supporting Hillary Clinton’s 1999 Senate campaign accepted a $20,000 contribution from Epstein. Sen. Schumer and affiliated committees also received donations from Epstein in the 1990s, years before his Florida conviction.
While the records indicate that some fundraisers continued to solicit Epstein after his 2008 conviction, there is no public evidence that Jeffries received donations from him or that Jeffries personally met Epstein.
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