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Brown targets Husted over Wexner donations in Ohio Senate race

Democrat Sherrod Brown has launched attack ads linking Republican Jon Husted to billionaire Les Wexner, who was linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

newest coverage 43m agosummary written 9h ago10 pieces1 likes & upvotes NewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • Democrat Sherrod Brown has made the $116,000 in political donations billionaire Les Wexner gave to Republican Jon Husted a central attack line in Ohio's 2026 Senate race, using ads that link Husted to Wexner's connection to Jeffrey Epstein.
  • The FBI labeled Wexner a potential co-conspirator after Epstein's 2019 arrest on sex trafficking charges, though Wexner's spokesperson says he was cleared and never contacted again.
  • Husted voted with Senate Republicans against forcing release of Epstein files less than 10 weeks after receiving a $3,500 donation from Wexner in July 2025.
  • Husted's campaign has responded by attacking Brown for accepting donations from other individuals named in Epstein documents, including Wexner's wife Abigail, Larry Summers, and Eric Schmidt.

“A spokesperson for the billionaire said Wexner provided background information, was told he was not a target of the investigation and was never contacted again.”

Wexner's spokesperson, Billionaire's representative · Philadelphia Inquirer ↗

Sherrod BrownSherrod Brown Democratic candidate for Ohio U.S. SenateJon HustedJon Husted Republican U.S. Senator from OhioLes WexnerLes Wexner Billionaire retail tycoon and major political donorDavid GarrettDavid Garrett Executive director, Institute for Primary Facts

Brown targets Husted over Wexner donations in Ohio Senate race
Baltimore Sun

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4 PM8 PMnow · 2:07 AM ET
  1. upcoming

    Traveling Epstein files exhibit comes to Ohio — A traveling display showcasing Justice Department Epstein files is expected to come to Ohio early next month, created by the nonprofit Institute for Primary Facts.

  2. 1

    Husted campaign counterattacks with ads on Brown's own Epstein-linked donors

    The Husted campaign responded with ads attacking Brown for accepting donations from individuals whose names appeared in Epstein documents, including Wexner's wife Abigail, former Treasury secretary Larry Summers, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Brown accepted no donations from Wexner himself.

    “We want to show these elected officials and the candidates that the public is interested in this topic, and the public is demanding justice for survivors and the public is demanding accountability, no matter how rich and powerful the perpetrators and enablers of these crimes are.”
    — David Garrett, Executive director, Institute for Primary Facts · source
    1. 7 outlets Billionaire’s political contributions make the Epstein files a focus of Ohio’s US Senate race

      first by Courthouse News, 11h ago · also Fast Company, Times of Israel, Orlando Sentinel, Baltimore Sun, Mercury News, Philadelphia Inquirer

      2 more headlines
    • us@pubeurope.com

      https://www. europesays.com/thestates/10628/ Billionaire’s political contributions make the Epstein files a focus of Ohio’s US Senate race # Business # CampaignFinance # GeneralNews # Ohio # politics # SexualAssault # USNews # voting # WashingtonNews

      us@pubeurope.comMastodon43m agoview on Mastodon ↗
  3. background

    Brown runs multiple TV ads linking Husted to Wexner and Epstein — Democrat Sherrod Brown's campaign has run at least three different television commercials attacking Husted for receiving more money from Wexner than any other current member of Congress. One ad featured Wexner's congressional deposition video; another characterized Wexner as 'an Epstein co-conspirator.'

  4. background

    Wexner donates $3,500 to Husted weeks before Senate Epstein vote — Wexner gave Husted a $3,500 donation in July 2025, less than 10 weeks before Husted voted with most Senate Republicans to defeat a Democratic effort to force release of Epstein files.

  5. background

    Wexner testifies before Congress in deposition — During a congressional deposition in February 2026, Wexner confirmed being a longtime political donor to Jon Husted, a former Ohio lawmaker who later became secretary of state and lieutenant governor.

  6. background

    FBI labels Wexner potential co-conspirator after Epstein arrest — After Jeffrey Epstein's arrest on sex trafficking charges, the Justice Department released documents showing the FBI labeled billionaire Les Wexner as a potential co-conspirator in connection with Epstein.