Washington, DC – House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declined to directly answer a question in November about an allegation raised by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer that Jeffries had accepted money from Jeffrey Epstein and hosted him for dinner in 2013, responding instead with sharp criticism of Republicans and the claim itself.

The exchange occurred after a reporter asked Jeffries about Comer’s assertion that the New York Democrat had financial or personal contact with Epstein years after Epstein’s conviction as a sex offender. Jeffries did not confirm or deny the allegation, instead questioning the seriousness of the claim and referring to Comer as a “malignant clown.”

Jeffries also said Republicans had “been burying the Epstein files,” arguing that Democrats were not responsible for concealing records related to Epstein. No evidence was presented publicly at the time by Comer to substantiate the claim involving Jeffries, and Jeffries’ office has not released additional details addressing the allegation directly.

The comments resurfaced amid renewed attention on political figures’ past interactions with Epstein, following reporting that Delegate Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands had exchanged text messages with Epstein years ago, a matter that has also drawn questions but has not resulted in criminal allegations.

Epstein, a wealthy financier with ties to prominent political, business, and academic figures, died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His associations have continued to prompt scrutiny across party lines as lawmakers debate access to investigative files and records.

Neither the House Oversight Committee nor Jeffries’ office has announced any formal inquiry or findings related to the allegation raised in November, and no documentation has been made public confirming that Jeffries accepted money from or hosted Epstein.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.