Billionaire with Epstein ties emerges as top Dem donor bankrolling ads weaponizing disgraced financier’s files

Reid Hoffman, the billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn who has faced scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, was among the largest donors to House Majority PAC, a key Democratic fundraising group that is now using Epstein-themed ads to target GOP candidates, according to Federal Election Commission filings released last week.

In recent weeks, HMP has begun spending heavily as Election Day nears, pressing the case that Republicans have failed to make good on promises to bring transparency to Epstein’s child sex trafficking activities and whether he facilitated illegal sexual encounters for others. The filings do not identify which donor funds were used for specific advertisements, but Hoffman’s contribution came as HMP ramped up spending on Epstein- focused ads just two weeks ahead of election night.

In one such campaign, HMP targeted Rep. Nick Begich, R-Alaska, over his vote against a procedural motion that would have advanced consideration of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Begich later voted in favor of the legislation, which passed with near-unanimous support.

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Billionaire LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman previously maintained ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a relationship drawing renewed criticism following Hoffman's $500,000 contribution to a super PAC supporting Kentucky Democratic congressional nominee Zach Dembo. (Getty Images)

"How did Jeffrey Epstein hide it? He was protected by the elites — elites like Nick Begich. Begich voted against releasing the Epstein Files, trying to hide the truth. Alaskans need someone who cares more about bringing down costs than protecting a rapist," the ad claims.

The legislation, which became law in November 2025, requires the Justice Department to release records related to Epstein, with some protections to conceal the identity of his victims.

HMP has spent $543,300 on the ad campaign, according to FEC records.

But the group has also targeted races in a number of other battleground states, spending $ 480,000 in Iowa’s Second Congressional District, $ 2.06 million in Pennsylvania’s 1st District, $550,150 in Arizona’s 2nd District and $628,000 in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District. All the ads launched within the past week, according to ADMO, an advertising- tracking service.

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Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell attend de Grisogono Sponsors The 2005 Wall Street Concert Series Benefitting Wall Street Rising, with a Performance by Rod Stewart at Cipriani Wall Street on March 15, 2005 in New York City. (Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

At least one Republican argued that Hoffman’s ties to Epstein made his contribution — and HMP’s Epstein-focused ads — hypocritical.

"Democrats have no problem with money in politics so long as it benefits their own campaign, even if it comes from certified perverts like Reid Hoffman who maintained a relationship with Epstein after his conviction," Natalie Baldassarre, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee (RNC), said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"Democrats have no morals when power and money are on the line, and they’ll take both from anyone willing to write a check."

For many years, Epstein and Hoffman exchanged correspondence and gifts. They also helped raise money for MIT’s Media Lab. According to records made public through the DOJ’s Epstein Files library, Hoffman joined Epstein at his private island and visited him at his residence in New York. In one email, sent on Christmas Eve in 2014, Hoffman told Epstein he had sent him a pair of gifts.

"Sent you two gifts to NYC addie. 1 - Ice cream. If you have any interest, you should try — [or] else for the girls. 2 – something that may strike your funny bone for the island," Hoffman wrote, referring to a surfer statue.

Hoffman has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, telling The Wall Street Journal in 2019 that he regretted continuing their relationship after Epstein was convicted in 2008 on charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor.

"My last interaction with Epstein was in 2015. Still, by agreeing to participate in any fundraising activity where Epstein was present, I helped to repair his reputation and perpetuate injustice," Hoffman said in 2019. "For this, I am deeply regretful."

EXCLUSIVE: OSSOFF CHALLENGED TO RETURN EPSTEIN-LINKED DONATION OR RETRACT 'EPSTEIN CLASS ATTACK'

Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, during the Allen & Co. Media and Technology Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, US, on Tuesday, Jul. 7, 2026. The event brings together many of the biggest names in AI, media and technology. (Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

There is no allegation in the records cited by Fox News Digital that Hoffman participated in Epstein’s sex-trafficking crimes.

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Fox News Digital asked HMP whether it was aware of Hoffman’s past relationship with Epstein when it accepted his contribution and whether the group considers his donation consistent with its messaging about Epstein.

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Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for Hoffman but did not receive a response.