Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat from Texas, recently stirred controversy by suggesting that Republicans, including Lee Zeldin, might have connections to Jeffrey Epstein. She faced backlash for these claims during a House session.
Zeldin quickly defended himself, pointing out that Federal Election Commission (FEC) records indicate two different individuals named Jeffrey Epstein were involved in donations—one being a doctor and the other a businessman—who made their contributions after the infamous financier’s death in 2019.
“I never said it was Jeffrey Epstein,” Crockett insisted during an interview with CNN’s Caitlin Collins, when asked if she wanted to clarify her statement.
She also criticized Republicans for not doing their due diligence, arguing that the FEC, which she referenced, had limited time to investigate. “My team just Googled it,” she explained. “That’s why I specifically said ‘Jeffrey Epstein.’ At least I’m not lying like the Republicans.” She maintained that Zeldin could easily clarify that they were different people.
Despite Zeldin’s assertion that one of the donors was a physician, Crockett continued to question the legitimacy, saying, “I haven’t done my research on who this doctor is, so I’ll take him at his word.” Yet, she insisted her intentions were not to mislead anyone.
The FEC records show that Dr. Jeffrey Epstein from New York made a $1,000 donation to Zeldin in 2020, adding to the confusion surrounding the name.
Additionally, another Jeffrey Epstein, who operates a beverage distribution company in New Jersey, donated $600 earlier that same year. Both contributions occurred after the notorious financier’s death.
Zeldin responded on social media, stating, “Yes, a doctor named Dr. Jeffrey Epstein, a completely different person than the other Jeffrey Epstein, donated to my previous campaign. There is no strange relationship, genius!”
He criticized Crockett’s defense, suggesting she needed to stop digging herself into a deeper hole.
This incident coincided with Crockett’s defense of Rep. Stacey Plaskett, who had faced scrutiny for her continued links to Epstein after her exit from Congress.
Crockett mentioned various other Republican figures who also received funding from someone named Jeffrey Epstein, as her team conducted further inquiries related to the matter. This came just as Republicans were highlighting connections between Epstein and supporters of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
