OSWEGO, ILLINOIS (February 26, 2026) — Following the release of documents detailing extensive ties between billionaire LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and convicted sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein, including, but not limited to documented visits to Epstein’s Island, new concerns are being raised regarding the campaign funding of Representative Lauren Underwood.

According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records and recent media reporting, Representative Underwood’s campaign committee has received over $20,000 in donations from Reid Hoffman, whose name appears 2,600 times in the Epstein Files. There were at least 7 large donations.

“It is deeply troubling that any elected official would maintain financial ties to individuals associated with Jeffrey Epstein,” said Jim Marter.

“With the recent revelations detailing Hoffman’s repeated meetings with Epstein and his presence on the private island, it is imperative that Representative Underwood address this association immediately.”

“I am calling on Representative Lauren Underwood to take a stand for victims of trafficking by either returning these donations or donating an equivalent sum to a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting victims of sex trafficking.”

“As a representative of the people, there is a moral obligation to reject tainted funds. Continuing to hold these donations, given the now well-documented connections, suggests a disregard for the gravity of the crimes committed by Epstein and the suffering of his victims,” Marter concluded.

Jim Marter is a principled Republican for Congress in Illinois’ 14th District. He is a small business owner, husband and father, with a long record of serving the community, standing up for victims of crime, violence and discrimination, and fighting for individual freedoms, secure borders, and accountable government.

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To learn more about Marter for Congress, visit www.marter4congress.us.

For press interviews and inquiries, email press@marter4congress.us