Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett recently faced backlash for mistakenly linking Republicans to the wrong Jeffrey Epstein during a speech on the House floor. While discussing the censure of Delegate Stacey Plaskett, Crockett named several prominent Republicans, asserting they received donations from the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, whose known associations with controversy have long made headlines.
Crockett pointed fingers at individuals such as Mitt Romney, Lee Zeldin, and George Bush, claiming that their campaign contributions stemmed from the infamous Epstein. However, Lee Zeldin, the former New York Representative and EPA administrator, quickly clarified that he had received support from a different Jeffrey Epstein—a physician based in Long Island—not the convicted sex offender. Zeldin took to social media to highlight this distinction, questioning Crockett’s claims.
FEC records confirm that Zeldin and other Republican figures mentioned by Crockett, including Rick Lazio and John McCain, indeed received contributions from Dr. Jeffrey Epstein. On the other hand, the notorious financier, meanwhile, made significant political donations over the years primarily to Democratic candidates and committees, especially during the 1990s.
Crockett’s comments came in the context of the House’s deliberation over a resolution to censure Plaskett for allegedly communicating with the disgraced financier during a significant committee hearing in 2019. Recent reports indicate that text exchanges occurred in real-time between Plaskett and Epstein during the testimony of Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer.
Ultimately, the motion to censure Plaskett was unsuccessful, as three Republicans joined the Democrats in opposing the effort, while additional GOP members refrained from voting “yes” or “no.” This incident underscores the complexities of political funding and the challenges lawmakers face in accurately addressing their opponents’ financial affiliations.