House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, accused House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ campaign on Tuesday of “soliciting money from Jeffrey Epstein.”
Citing a 2013 email from a political consulting firm inviting the infamous pedophile to a Democratic Party dinner and to “get to know” Jeffries, the Kentucky Republican is spearheading the oversight panel’s inquiry into Epstein.
“Democrat fundraisers invited Epstein to attend an event, or meet privately with Hakeem Jeffries as part of their 2013 effort to win a majority. So, Hakeem Jeffries’ campaign solicited money from Jeffrey Epstein. That’s what we found in the last document batch,” Comer said on the House floor.
On May 7, 2013, Lisa Rossi, a partner at the New York City-based consulting firm Dynamic SRG, sent Epstein an email with the subject line, “Rising Star.”
Lesley Groff, Epstein’s former executive assistant, also forwarded the email to Epstein.
“Dear Jeffrey,” the message stated. “We are thrilled to announce that we are working with Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, one of the rising stars in the New York Congressional delegation.
“Sometimes referred to as ‘Brooklyn’s Barack’, he is a staunch supporter of President Obama and a progressive voice for the people of New York City.”
The firm’s pitch to Epstein included a video and article touting the Brooklyn Democrat’s work during his first year in Congress.
“Hakeem is committed to electing a Democratic majority in 2014 and is encouraging his friends to participate in the DCCC/DSCC fundraising dinner with President Obama this coming Monday night,” the email continued. “Shoot us an email or give us a call at [the firm’s phone number] if you would like to get involved with the dinner, or would like to get an opportunity to get to know Hakeem better.”
About five years after Epstein entered a guilty plea to charges of soliciting prostitutes and soliciting prostitution from a minor in Florida in 2008, the invitation was sent.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Epstein gave tens of thousands of dollars to a number of Democrats. He passed away in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal child sex trafficking allegations.
Epstein did not appear to have donated to Jeffries, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, or the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee at the time the email was sent, according to Federal Election Commission records.
As part of their extensive Epstein investigation, Republicans in the House Oversight Committee published over 20,000 documents last week, including the email.
As part of their extensive Epstein investigation, Republicans in the House Oversight Committee published over 20,000 documents last week, including the email.
This comes as the U.S. Senate formally enacted legislation compelling the Justice Department to provide additional details regarding the case it developed against the late convicted sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The House decisively cleared the bill on Tuesday, and senators had agreed to automatically pass it as soon as it was received.
President Donald Trump has stated that he will sign it, and it is currently on his
