Billionaire’s political contributions make the Epstein files a focus of Ohio’s US Senate race

Jeffrey Epstein's Ohio connections are expected to surface anew early next month, when a traveling display showcasing the Justice Department files comes to the state. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Billionaire Les Wexner has long been a magnet for political campaigns seeking contributions — especially in his native Ohio, where the retail tycoon directed a generous portion of his giving to candidates from both parties. Then came the Epstein files . Jeffrey Epstein , the late convicted sex offender, was Wexner’s former financial adviser.

Scoop News DeskOhio · Published Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 6:14 PM UTCUpdated Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 7:25 PM UTC

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“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,” said David Garrett, executive director of the Institute for Primary Facts, the nonprofit that created the exhibit. Another characterized Wexner as “an Epstein co-conspirator,” even though Wexner has not been charged and his lawyer said he was not a target of the investigation.

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