Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire investor and convicted sex offender indicted this week on fresh sex trafficking charges, is known for mixing with celebrity entertainers and wealthy businessmen.
And according to a recent report from the Washington Times, it looks like Epstein was also rubbing elbows with the political elite, handing out thousands of dollars in donations to a “who’s who” of mostly Democratic politicians and candidates.
Deep pockets for Democrats
Federal election records show that Epstein gave money to a total of 26 Democrats throughout the 1990s, in addition to contributing to the Democratic Party’s Senate and House campaign operations. The hedge fund manager ceased donating to political candidates and causes in the early 2000s, around the same time that he was allegedly operating a sex trafficking ring from a private island off the coast of Puerto Rico.
Also during this time, Epstein was jet-setting with former President Bill Clinton to exotic locations around the world and socializing with then-future President Donald Trump. He counted A-list actors and business heavyweights among the dinner guests invited to his Manhattan penthouse overlooking Central Park.
Thanks to the money he pumped into several nationally prominent political campaigns, Epstein’s list of powerful associates extended to Capitol Hill. He contributed to the political war chests of several Democrats in the Senate, including New Mexico Sen. Jeff Bingaman, Connecticut Sens. Joe Lieberman and Chris Dodd, New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley, New York Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas, and Sen. John Glenn of Ohio, according to the Washington Times’ report.
The pedophile financier also donated $29,000 to Democrats’ senatorial campaign operation and $25,000 to the Democratic National Committee (DNC). He even gave to three Republican politicians throughout the 1990s, the report noted.
Now-Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also raked in $4,000 from Epstein over two separate election cycles. Despite this, Schumer had the audacity this week to call on Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, the prosecutor responsible for reaching a plea deal with Epstein, to resign from his position, according to the New York Post.
Saving face
In 2008, Epstein reached a plea deal with prosecutors that allowed him to escape a heavy sentence for sexually assaulting as many as 30 women. The investor’s private island came to be called “Orgy Island” or “Pedophile Island” by locals who heard about the young women who were lured to the resort on false pretenses and asked to strip naked and massage older men.
Epstein was convicted at the state level and, in exchange for his cooperation in a financial crimes investigation, was issued a light 13-month sentence. However, even after his crimes were made public, it took the Democratic Congressional Campaign committee a year to send back the $10,000 Epstein had given them.
The Dodd and Moynihan campaigns also found it necessary to return $1,000 in donations to the convicted businessman. However, Stacy Plaskett, the delegate who represents the U.S. Virgin Islands where Epstein’s estate is located, initially refused to hand over three donations of $2,700 she received from him between 2016 and 2018, CNBC reports.
Since then, Plaskett has reconsidered her position and has committed to returning the funds.
Politicizing a tragedy
Since Epstein’s latest brush with the law, Democrats have been trying their best to establish a connection between Trump and the child molester investor. In 2002, the real estate mogul called Epstein a “terrific guy” and even professed that “he likes beautiful women…on the younger side.”
However, based on Epstein’s history of donating to political campaigns, it is clear that the alleged sex trafficker’s allegiance lies with the left.
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