Convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein handed out thousands of dollars in the 1990s, mostly to Democrats and their party, but he stopped campaign donations in the early 2000s as Florida was probing accusations involving teenage and underage girls.
Federal election records show he gave to 26 Democrats and three Republicans in the 1990s. He also gave to the Democrats’ Senate and House campaign arms.
The billionaire investor hobnobbed with New York’s wealthy and the nation’s powerful. He hosted former President Bill Clinton on a number of flights in his private jet and socialized with real estate developer Donald Trump. Media stars and entertainers were among his dinner guests at his Upper East Side mansion overlooking Central Park.
Mr. Epstein was indicted by a New York grand jury this week on child sex-trafficking charges. He had pleaded guilty in 2008 to Florida state charges and was forced to register as a sex offender permanently.
The list of Epstein-funded Democrats is a who’s who of the 1990s: Sens. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico; Joe Lieberman and Chris Dodd of Connecticut; Bill Bradley of New Jersey; Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York; Mark Pryor of Arkansas; and John Glenn of Ohio.
Sen. Charles E.Schumer of New York, now Senate minority leader, received $4,000 from him in two election cycles.
Mr. Epstein also gave $29,000 to Democrats’ senatorial campaign operation and $25,000 to the Democratic National Committee.
Some campaigns have been returning his money. Last year, the Democratic Congressional Campaign committee sent back $10,000. The Dodd campaign returned $1,000 in 2006.
Stacy Plaskett, the delegate from the U.S. Virgin Islands where Mr. Epstein owns an island the locals nicknamed “Pedophile Island,” received three donations of $2,700 each from 2016 to 2018.
She first said she planned to keep the donations but later committed to handing the money back.
Epstein lists his employment history as Wexner Investments, where he worked as a money manager; Financial Trust Co., his holding in the Virgin Islands; J. Epstein and Co.; and “self financier.”
How he assembled his fortune is somewhat of a mystery. After leaving Wexner in the 1980s, he became a one-man hedge fund under Financial Trust.
• Rowan Scarborough can be reached at rscarborough@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.