The emails, dated October 2012, show Democrat fundraisers personally pitched Epstein using the name of Kirsten Gillibrand in the emails, inviting the disgraced Epstein to attend a breakfast with her to raise money for Hochul during her closely contested re-election campaign in New York’s 27th Congressional District.
"Dear Jeffrey - Did you see this message from Senator Gillibrand? Congresswoman Kathy Hochul is one of the Senator's top priorities this cycle and a poll released over the weekend shows her re-election race dead even. Senator Gillibrand is all in on this one, and is headlining a breakfast fundraiser for Kathy on Tuesday, October 23rd at 42nd & Park Avenue. If you join the Host Committee and contribute $1,000, you can take part in an intimate VIP reception that will include a photo op with the Senator at 8:00am. For $2,500, you can get three tickets for the VIP reception. Space is limited," was found in one email in the Epstein Files dated October 10th, 2012.
At the time, Hochul, a Democrat, was locked in a tight race against Republican challenger Chris Collins, who went on to defeat Hochul in the heavily Republican Congressional district.
In one message, a fundraiser identified as Lisa Rossi urged Epstein to join the host committee for a Gillibrand-headlined breakfast event in Manhattan, noting that Hochul’s race was “dead even” and describing it as a top priority for the senator.
Contribution levels ranged from $250 for a general reception ticket to $2,500 for VIP access and a photo opportunity with Gillibrand.
"Hi Jeffrey. Will you be joining Senator Gillibrand for breakfast tomorrow morning with Kathy Hochul? We'll be celebrating her New York Time's endorsement," was written in one email found in the Epstein Files.
A forwarded message from Gillibrand emphasized the stakes of the race, referencing then-House Speaker John Boehner’s involvement and calling on supporters to help raise $30,000 to bolster Hochul’s campaign in the final weeks before Election Day.
Another email in the Epstein files from a political consultant encouraged Epstein to watch Hochul’s debate performance and attend the New York City fundraiser.
"Dear Jeffrey: I know I've emailed you before about Congresswoman Kathy Hochul. Kathy is doing great! Every poll has her tied, President Bill Clinton i s doing an event i n the district o n Friday and now we just have t o close strong. Tonight is the FIRST live debate between Kathy Hochul and her GOP Challenger and Tea Party favorite ChrisCollins. This i s a great chance to see Kathy in action," a Democrat fundraiser pleaded directly to Epstein.
Gillibrand’s office has previously said that campaign outreach at the time was conducted broadly to potential donors.
Epstein, a disgraced financier with extensive political and social connections, died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The request for Epstein to donate to Hochul occurred after he was charged with multiple prostitution charges, including procuring a prostitute under the age of 18, in Florida in 2018.
A Hochul spokesman told the New York Times that" the governor had never met Mr. Epstein and did not know that Dynamic SRG had asked him for money." The Hochul spokeswoman also stated that the Governor no longer employed that firm