Washington, D.C. — New revelations from recently released Epstein-related documents have prompted Republican lawmakers to question whether House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had indirect fundraising ties to Jeffrey Epstein in 2013.
According to records highlighted by House Oversight Chairman James Comer, a May 2013 email sent by political consulting firm Dynamic SRG invited Epstein to a Democratic fundraising dinner featuring President Barack Obama and offered a private opportunity to “get to know” then-Congressman Jeffries, described in the email as a “rising star” and “Brooklyn’s Barack.”
Comer argued the email demonstrates that Jeffries’ political operation solicited campaign money from Epstein despite Epstein already being a registered sex offender at the time. “If Leader Jeffries accepted money from Epstein, that’s a problem,” said Rep. Byron Donalds, adding pressure on Democratic leadership to clarify the extent of any financial interactions.
However, no public Federal Election Commission records currently show that Epstein ever donated to Jeffries’ campaign or to related Democratic committees. Multiple outlets have reported that there is no available evidence that Epstein attended the event, responded to the invitation, or made any contribution.
Jeffries has strongly rejected the implication of personal involvement, stating he has “never met” Epstein, has “no recollection” of the 2013 outreach, and “never received a donation from Jeffrey Epstein.” He also emphasized that the email was sent by an outside fundraising firm, not by him personally.
The 2013 message was uncovered as part of more than 20,000 pages of Epstein-related material obtained during the Oversight Committee’s ongoing review. The discovery has fueled partisan tensions as Republicans argue that Democratic fundraising networks maintained contact with Epstein long after his conviction.
Jeffries, meanwhile, has called for the full public release of all Justice Department files tied to Epstein, saying he supports transparency for survivors and the American public.
At this stage, the political debate hinges on the nature of the solicitation, as no documentation has confirmed that a donation was ever made.
