EPA Administrator Responds to Claims About Epstein Donations
Lee Zeldin, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, reacted strongly after Representative Jasmine Crockett, among others, stated they had received funds from someone named Jeffrey Epstein. Zeldin took to social media again after Crockett defended her remarks, emphasizing she didn’t mean to “mislead” anyone.
On Wednesday, Zeldin tweeted, “When you fall into a hole, you better stop digging,” and added an exploding head emoji for emphasis. He highlighted that the public Federal Election Commission report mentioned by Crockett clearly indicated it was a Dr. Jeffrey Epstein who contributed to his campaign, not the infamous financier, and that the donation occurred well after the election.
The disagreement originated from Crockett’s comments made on Tuesday, where she referenced a list of individuals or entities, claiming they had connections with someone named Epstein. She conducted a quick search, mentioning names like Mitt Romney and John McCain along the way.
Zeldin countered her claims emphatically, clarifying that the donation came from a different person entirely and not the one linked to past controversies. He pointed out the distinct differences between the two individuals, calling out Crockett for any confusion.
Moreover, Meghan McCain, daughter of the late senator John McCain, also voiced her disapproval of Crockett’s remarks. In a post, she argued, “My father has been dead for 7 years @RepJasmine. He has never met Jeffrey Epstein, much less accepted any money from him.” She questioned Crockett’s understanding of the situation directly.
On Wednesday, as CNN’s Caitlan Collins questioned Crockett about Zeldin’s rebuttal, the Texas Democrat responded by saying she never actually confirmed it was that Jeffrey Epstein. She insisted that her earlier comments might have been misconstrued.
In her defense, Crockett later stated, “Unlike Republicans, I at least don’t go out and lie,” while maintaining that she had clearly indicated it was a Jeffrey Epstein, just not necessarily the infamous one. When asked about her comments, she seemed to navigate the situation carefully, trying to clarify her stance without admitting to any error.
