Jasmine Crockett Claims “Jeffrey Epstein” Funded Lee Zeldin — Records Reveal It Was a Different Epstein Entirely
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a heated exchange on Capitol Hill, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) accused former Congressman and current EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin of accepting campaign donations from “somebody named Jeffrey Epstein,” suggesting a connection to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019. However, Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings reveal that the donors were not the notorious Epstein, but two entirely different individuals who share his name.
The Accusation
During a debate over a Republican-led attempt to censure Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D-USVI), Crockett declared, “We gonna expose it all!” She claimed to have swiftly found evidence linking Zeldin and other prominent Republicans to Epstein through campaign donations. Crockett listed several political figures and organizations—including Mitt Romney, the NRCC, George Bush, WinRed, McCain-Palin, and Rick Lazio—as recipients of donations from “somebody named Jeffrey Epstein.”
Her comments came shortly after Republicans revealed that supporters of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) had invited Epstein to a private event in 2013.
The Reality: It Wasn’t THAT Jeffrey Epstein
A closer look at FEC records shows that two men named Jeffrey Epstein donated to Zeldin’s campaign after the infamous Epstein’s death in August 2019:
– Dr. Jeffrey Epstein of Manhasset, NY, contributed $1,000 to Zeldin in April and August 2020.
– Jeffrey Epstein, owner of a beverage distribution company in New Brunswick, NJ, donated $600 in February 2020.
Both donations occurred months after the notorious Epstein’s death, and neither donor is connected to the late financier. FEC records dating back to 2012 show no donations from the infamous Jeffrey Epstein to Zeldin, who served in Congress from 2015 to 2023.
Neither Crockett’s office nor the donors responded to requests for comment about the apparent misidentification.
Zeldin Responds
Zeldin quickly addressed the confusion on social media, posting on X: “Yes Crockett, a physician named Dr. Jeffrey Epstein (who is a totally different person than the other Jeffrey Epstein) donated to a prior campaign of mine. NO FREAKIN RELATION YOU GENIUS!!!”
Transparency Legislation on the Horizon
Meanwhile, President Trump is expected to sign legislation this week mandating the full disclosure of federal files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The move comes after initial opposition from Trump, who previously denounced the effort as a Democratic “witch hunt” targeting his past social ties with the financier.
Conclusion
Rep. Crockett’s attempt to tie Zeldin and other Republicans to the disgraced Epstein underscores the importance of careful scrutiny of public records. While her remarks drew attention to campaign finance transparency, FEC filings make it clear that the donations in question came from individuals sharing the same name, not the infamous Epstein himself. As Washington moves toward greater disclosure of Epstein-related files, the episode serves as a reminder of the need for accuracy in political discourse.
