An upstate House candidate has drawn attention for his connection to controversial incidents involving both the Epstein scandal and his brother-in-law’s history as a registered sex offender, as reported by the Post.
Democrat Aaron Gies is challenging Republican Rep. Nick Langworthy, and has the support of his brother-in-law, Christopher Nathan White. White, a former teacher in North Carolina, is a convicted rapist who committed sex crimes against two teenage students, capturing footage at a winter event known as the Polar Plunge.
“He was there,” Gies acknowledged to the Post about the incident that became public on December 26, 2025.
“Chris is not a part of my campaign,” Gies stated, noting that White had “done time” for his offenses. Gies described the situation as a “distraction” from his goals regarding health care and housing improvements.
“I’ve not faced any criminal accusations myself, nor have I hidden anyone else’s crimes,” he added.
Recently, Gies, who teaches theology at St. Bonaventure University, made headlines when he urged Maine Senator Graham Platner to step down due to allegations of rape and sexual assault.
In another critique, he accused Langworthy of misusing his role on the House Oversight Committee to shield individuals related to the Epstein case.
However, these remarks coincided with his brother-in-law’s appearance at a campaign event, despite White’s five-year prison sentence for a rape conviction and two sex crimes involving minors aged 15 and 17.
After serving his time, White relocated to New York and now works at a veterinary hospital owned by Gies’s wife and sister. He is classified as a Level 2 sex offender in the state.
Chris Hahn, a retired Marine who participated in the Polar Plunge event, voiced his concerns after discovering who had filmed the fundraising video featuring participants jumping into icy water. He expressed surprise at the connection, even if it is family.
“I was shocked to see someone like that, brother-in-law or not, participating in the campaign,” Hahn shared, especially since he attended with his 15-year-old daughter. “Do the people who want to vote for Gies know about this? You don’t set a good example.”
Langworthy reacted strongly, criticizing Gies’s judgment. He stated, “Having a convicted sex offender and someone convicted of second-degree rape of a minor participate in a campaign is deeply disturbing and shows an astonishing lack of judgment in an adult, let alone someone seeking public office.” He emphasized the responsibility legislators have to protect victims and children.
Gies aims to unseat Langworthy in New York’s 23rd Congressional District, which encompasses parts of the Buffalo suburbs. Current registration statistics indicate that there are 132,176 independent voters in the district, but Republicans hold a significant advantage, with 209,390 active registered members compared to 144,342 Democrats.
