NORWALK — U.S. Sen. Jon Husted’s staff announced on Tuesday that it was donating campaign money from Ohio billionaire Leslie Wexner, just hours after a local reporter asked Husted about it.
Wexner has been identified as a one-time associate of fellow billionaire and notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, in files recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Wexner has donated more than a hundred thousand dollars to Husted over the years, including as recently as July when he donated $3,500 to the Husted for Senate campaign. Husted voted against a law that requires the DOJ to release the records, including the documents that have Wexner’s name included. Wexner donated $15,400 to Husted in 2023.
One FBI report shows investigators believed Wexner was a co-conspiritor with Epstein, but an attorney for the retailer said he was assured by the U.S. Attorney’s office his client was cleared during the investigation.
Husted met with a few local officials at Sheri’s Coffee House on Whittlesey Avenue in Norwalk on Tuesday, and he wasn’t ready to answer questions about Jeffry Epstein or Leslie Wexner. Husted — who has not had any announced or participated in any open local visits since he became Senator in January 2025 — was joined by Huron County Commissioners Harry Brady and Tom Dunlap, along with members of his security detail and campaign staff.
He declined to answer when Sandusky Register/Norwalk Reflector reporter Terry Burton asked him about the campaign donations from billionaire Wexner and his vote on the release of the Epstein files.
The exchange occurred shortly after 2 p.m. Burton asked about the significance of the donation and Husted’s vote earlier this year against releasing files related to the Epstein investigation.
Wexner is founder of the company he formerly owned, retailer Victoria’s Secret. Wexner’s name appears more than 1,300 times in the files, according to news reports. Since the release of the files, Wexner has said he knew nothing about Epstein’s criminal conduct and said he was deceived. He ended his relationship with Epstein in 2008, according to news accounts.
Husted initially turned his head and did not respond when Burton asked him about Wexner. There were patrons in the coffee house who shouted at Husted, including one who asserted he was a “pedophile protector.” There was no physical altercation and no one was removed from the coffee shop, the Reflector reported.
“Senator Husted has directed the campaign to donate Wexner’s money to charity,” Husted’s office said in a statement to WBNS Columbus, attributed as having been received Monday afternoon. The Register reported that it wasn’t clear when the statement was sent out and to whom it was sent, nor was it clear how much money would be donated or to which organization.
“Other Ohio outlets reported the news on Tuesday and no statement from Husted’s office was received by the Register or Reflector either before or after the campaign stop in Norwalk,” the Reflector news article states.
StayTunedSandusky.com, which has repeatedly asked Husted and his office and campaign staffs to provide news releases and updates. Husted and his staff have refused to respond.
📰 Read more in the Register/Reflector
This is how the Norwalk Reflector described the encounter with Husted:
“The exchange over campaign finance came after discussion about immigration enforcement, including recent actions involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota. Husted said ICE was removing “the worst of the worst.”
“When asked whether recent ICE tactics in Minneapolis were warranted, Husted said local officials’ lack of cooperation was to blame.
“What happened in Minneapolis is ultimately the lack of cooperation with federal authorities,” he said.
“When pressed about courthouse arrests involving individuals not currently in violation of their immigration status, Husted replied, “A visa isn’t a right.”
“The campaign stop continued, with Husted taking additional questions about transportation funding and other state matters. Husted and his team left shortly after.”
Thanks, Terry and Matt for exposing what would have otherwise NEVER seen the light of day in Norwalk.