Donations and the Epstein Connection
Billionaire Les Wexner’s political contributions have become a central point of contention in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race, linking the contest to the broader national scrutiny surrounding Jeffrey Epstein.
Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender, served as Wexner’s former financial adviser. That professional relationship and Wexner’s extensive history of political donations have figured prominently in the Ohio Senate race, which could end up as the most expensive in the country this year.
According to Federal Election Commission records cited by ABC News, Wexner contributed approximately $116,000 to support Republican Sen. Jon Husted from 2001 to 2025. The contributions occurred mostly during the two decades Wexner spent in state politics before being appointed to fill Vice President JD Vance’s vacancy.
Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown has run television commercials criticizing Husted for receiving more money from Wexner than any other current member of Congress. One ad featured video footage from Wexner’s February congressional deposition, where he confirmed being a longtime political donor to Husted.
Another advertisement characterized Wexner as “an Epstein co-conspirator.” However, Wexner has not been charged with any crime, and his lawyer stated that he was not a target of the investigation.
Campaign Tactics and Counter-Allegations
The Brown campaign specifically promoted a $3,500 donation Wexner gave to Husted in July 2025. This contribution occurred less than 10 weeks before Husted joined most Senate Republicans in defeating a Democratic effort to force the release of the Epstein files.
In response, the Husted campaign attacked Brown for accepting donations from individuals named in the Epstein documents. These donors include Wexner’s wife, Abigail; former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers; and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
ABC News reported that Federal Election Commission records show Brown accepted no donations from Wexner himself. Additionally, Brown did not return donations from about a dozen individuals named in the files, whom Husted’s ad described as “Epstein associates,” though none was accused of any crime.
A Husted campaign spokesperson, Amy Natoce, disputed the claim that Husted “voted to cover up the Epstein files.” Natoce noted that Husted voted yes on the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November and called an earlier vote procedural.
Traveling Display and Wexner’s Testimony
The political debate over the donations coincides with increased public visibility of the Epstein investigation materials. A traveling display showcasing Justice Department files is expected to arrive in Ohio early next month, according to David Garrett, executive director of the Institute for Primary Facts.
Amidst these developments, Wexner, 89, has addressed his relationship with Epstein under oath. In February, he stated that he never lobbied or asked anyone to block the release of the Epstein files. He told Congress he was “duped by a world-class con man.”
Addressing the flow of funds, Natoce said Husted donated $34,300 of available Wexner contributions to an anti-human trafficking charity.