Quick Check is a Bangor Daily News election feature that fact-checks political ads in 400 words or less. We have partnered with The Maine Monitor on a subscription to AdImpact, an ad-tracking platform that powers this feature.
An inflammatory new ad from a Democratic super PAC accuses U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of blocking release of the Jeffrey Epstein files after a group backing her took millions from a man it calls Epstein’s business partner.
But Collins had supported similar language to release the files when she took the vote referenced in the ad. The donor’s Epstein ties are tenuous, and no partnership has surfaced.
“Susan Collins voted to cover up the Epstein files. … Turns out that Jeffrey Epstein’s business partner funneled $3 million to her super PAC,” a woman says in the ad.
Epstein, who abused girls and young women, pleaded guilty to Florida prostitution charges in 2008 and died by suicide in jail in 2019 amid federal sex trafficking charges.
The ad is referencing Collins and other Republicansvoting last Septemberto table a Democratic amendment attaching disclosure to a defense bill. But she had already gotten similar language through the Appropriations Committee she chairs that July.
Two months later, a standalone billpassed the Senate by unanimous consent. Sheissued a statement thencalling it “an important step for the survivors of these heinous crimes.” The Justice Department hassince released more than 3 million more pages.
The “business partner” is Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, who hasgiven $3 million to Pine Tree Results PAC, a pro-Collins group. Schwarzman and Epstein were among 100 founding memberswho gave $100,000 in 2005to start Core Club in New York City.
“Being founders of the same exclusive club inherently makes individuals partners in business,” said Lauren French, a spokesperson for Senate Majority PAC, which is associated with WinSenate.
But they were founding members, not founders. ASnopes reviewfound no evidence the two had ever interacted. Other founding members included Hollywood power broker and prolific Democratic donor Ari Emanuel,The New York Times reportedin 2011.
Blackstone, the private equity firm Schwarzman runs, offered a sharp defense.
“It would be categorically false and reckless to claim or imply that Steve had any relationship with this despicable individual,” spokesperson Tom Clements said.
WinSenate has booked $32.4 million in Maine’s Senate race, part of $95 million in Democratic spending against $142 million from Republicans, including $28.3 million from Pine Tree Results PAC, according to AdImpact.
Michael Shepherd joined the Bangor Daily News in 2015 after time at the Kennebec Journal. He lives in Augusta, graduated from the University of Maine in 2012 and has a master's degree from the University...More by Michael Shepherd
