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Jeffries Denies Soliciting Epstein Donations, Calls Comer a “Stone Cold Liar”
A heated exchange erupted this week as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries vehemently denied allegations that he solicited campaign donations from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, labeling House Oversight Chairman James Comer a “stone cold liar” in response to the claims. The controversy centers around a 2013 email released by House Oversight Republicans.
The dispute began Tuesday during floor debate regarding the release of Epstein files, when Comer directly accused Jeffries of coordinating with Epstein. “Democrats have been silent about their colleague’s coordination with epstein,” Comer, R-Ky., stated. “Another email shows Democrat fundraisers invited Epstein to attend an event, or meet privately with Hakeem Jeffries in 2013 as part of their effort to build a Democrat House majority.”
Jeffries swiftly countered the accusations. “Was that a serious question or a serious statement from malignant clown James Comer that I had Jeffrey Epstein over for dinner, that I accepted money from Jeffrey Epstein?” jeffries questioned. “What’s extraordinary to me about the clown show on the other side of the aisle is that they lie with impunity on things that are objectively verifiable.”
According to documents released last week, Epstein received a campaign solicitation on May 7, 2013, from the fundraising firm Dynamic SRG. The email touted Jeffries as “one of the rising stars in the new York Congressional delegation” and a “staunch supporter of President Obama.” It further stated,”Hakeem is committed to electing a Democratic majority in 2014 and is encouraging his friends to participate in the DCCC/DSCC fundraising dinner with President Obama this coming night,” offering opportunities to “get to know Hakeem better.”
Dynamic SRG,a firm specializing in fundraising for progressive candidates in New York city,did not respond to inquiries regarding whether Jeffries was aware of the email.
On Wednesday, Jeffries continued to deflect direct questions about whether he had personally sought donations from epstein, rather asserting that Republicans were deliberately delaying the full release of the Epstein files. When pressed specifically about soliciting funds in exchange for a meeting, Jeffries reiterated his strong condemnation of Comer. “I have no idea what James Comer is talking about in terms of anything that any prior consultant may have sent,” he said. “I had no idea about that either, but James Comer apparently made the depiction on the floor of the house that I sat down with Jeffrey Epstein, had dinner with Jeffrey Epstein, have contributions from Jeffrey Epstein. He’s a stone cold liar, and James Comer knows it.”
Earlier, Jeffries told CNN he had no recollection of the email and had never met Epstein. “I have no recollection of the email,” he stated. “I’ve never had a conversation with him, never met him, know nothing about him other than the extreme things that he’s been convicted of doing.”
A spokesperson for Comer fired back, stating, “Hakeem Jeffries is the stone cold liar.The email, which came to light as an inevitable result of Chairman Comer’s subpoena to the Epstein estate, is real and speaks for itself.Hakeem’s fundraisers made a solicitation on his behalf to invite Jeffrey Epstein to a dinner or meet with him privately.”
The solicitation occurred after Epstein had already registered as a sex offender in 2010 and pleaded guilty to state charges related to prostitution in 2008. Despite the allegations, ABC news reported it could find no records of donations from Epstein to Jeffries or organizations affiliated with him, and Jeffries has not been previously accused of wrongdoing concerning Epstein.
The ongoing dispute highlights the intense political scrutiny surrounding the Epstein case and the continued efforts to uncover potential connections between prominent figures and the convicted sex offender.
