Damning Email Links Jeffries to Epstein Solicitation

November 21, 2025

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries faces explosive scrutiny after revelations that his 2013 campaign solicited funds from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, exposing dangerous gaps in Democratic vetting practices.

Story Highlights

Jeffries’ consulting firm invited Epstein to Democratic fundraising dinner five years after his conviction
Email promoted Jeffries as “Brooklyn’s Barack” and encouraged Epstein’s participation in Democratic fundraising
House Oversight Committee released damning email as part of bipartisan push for Epstein file transparency
No evidence found that Epstein actually donated, but solicitation raises serious ethical questions

Campaign Consultant Courted Convicted Criminal

Lisa Rossi, a partner at the consulting firm representing Hakeem Jeffries’ 2013 congressional campaign, sent a direct solicitation email to Jeffrey Epstein inviting him to a Democratic fundraising dinner. The email, forwarded by Epstein’s executive assistant Lesley Groff, promoted Jeffries as a rising political star and encouraged Epstein to participate in Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee fundraising efforts. This outreach occurred five years after Epstein’s widely publicized 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer read the damaging email on the House floor, highlighting how the Democratic establishment actively pursued financial support from a known sex offender. The solicitation demonstrates a troubling willingness to overlook criminal convictions when seeking wealthy donors, raising fundamental questions about the party’s moral compass and vetting procedures.

Timing Exposes Democratic Hypocrisy

The 2013 solicitation came at a time when Epstein’s criminal background was public knowledge, making the outreach particularly egregious. Epstein had already served time for his conviction and was a registered sex offender when Jeffries’ campaign apparatus actively courted his financial support. The consulting firm’s decision to target Epstein reveals either gross negligence in donor research or a calculated willingness to accept money from unsavory sources.

The revelation coincides with the House’s overwhelming 427-1 bipartisan vote to release all unclassified Epstein files, demonstrating unprecedented unity in Congress for transparency. This broad support reflects growing public demand for accountability regarding Epstein’s extensive political network and the need to expose all connections to the convicted predator across party lines.

Third-Party Consulting Creates Accountability Gap

The use of third-party consulting firms allows political campaigns to maintain plausible deniability while pursuing questionable fundraising tactics. Jeffries’ campaign structure created a buffer between the congressman and direct solicitation activities, enabling his team to distance themselves from ethical lapses. This arrangement highlights systemic problems in political fundraising where campaigns outsource controversial activities to avoid direct responsibility.

Jeffrey Epstein was invited to Dem fundraising dinner and to ‘get to know’ Hakeem Jeffries by firm working with ‘Brooklyn’s Barack’ https://t.co/5B8rQqJa4o

— pmkPE (@pe_pmk33178) November 19, 2025

Despite no evidence of actual donations from Epstein to Jeffries or related Democratic committees, the solicitation itself represents a serious breach of ethical standards. The willingness to court a convicted sex offender undermines public trust in Democratic leadership and raises questions about what other questionable donors may have been targeted through similar outreach efforts.