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Ohioans in Marietta Condemn Jon Husted For Taking More Than $116k From Epstein Co-Conspirator

July 14, 2026

Husted continues dodging basic questions that Ohioans deserve answered

MARIETTA, OHIO — In case you missed it, Ohioans in Marietta called out Senator Jon Husted for taking more than $116,000 directly from Epstein co-conspirator Les Wexner, including a maximum donation just a few weeks before he voted to block the release of the Epstein files. 

The rally in Marietta comes as Husted continues to dodge questions and accountability after voting against the release of the Epstein files. Recently, Husted ran away from a reporter when asked why he accepted money from an Epstein co-conspirator. 

Ohioans have also protested Husted in Columbus, Toledo, Youngstown, Westlake, Steubenville, and Lima, and Husted was called out for being a “pedophile protector” at an event in Norwalk. Husted is the only Senator up for re-election to take Wexner’s money, and has taken 10 times as much money from the Epstein co-conspirator than any other sitting Senator.

See For Yourself:

WTAP: Marietta protest targets Ohio Sen. Jon Husted

  • WTAP: [Organizers] allege Husted accepted more than $116,000 tied to billionaire Les Wexner. Wexner has been publicly linked to Jeffrey Epstein, and has been described by protesters as an Epstein co-conspirator.
  • Geneva Cech, concerned Ohioan: It’s important that our representatives are looking out for our best interest. It’s important that our representatives care for us. And if we have a senator who is willing to accept donations from somebody covering up for a child predator, it’s important that we know this information.
  • Cech: And come election time, I hope people can recognize that Jon Husted is not looking out for the everyday Ohioan. He’s looking to support and protect his billionaire donors.

Marietta Times: Picture This: Speakers criticize Husted donations

  • The Ohio Democratic Party held what organizers described as a protest Wednesday in Marietta focused on U.S. Sen. Jon Husted’s campaign contributions from Les Wexner, who had worked with Jeffrey Epstein from the late 80’s into the late 2000’s
  • Speakers criticized Husted for accepting contributions from Wexner and for his vote on a procedural motion related to the release of Epstein-related files. Several speakers said the issue raised broader concerns about political accountability, transparency and support for survivors of sexual abuse.
  • “Survivors have to face the double-edged sword, first the abuse, and then the disbelief,” said Joy Cowdery, a former teacher from Marietta, arguing that elected officials should support the release of information related to Epstein.
  • Organizers said Husted has received $116,892 from Wexner over more than 20 years, including a maximum legal contribution last year. The Marietta event was billed by organizers as the seventh Ohio protest on the issue, following events in Columbus, Toledo, Youngstown, Westlake, Steubenville and Lima.

TiffinOhio.net: Ohioans call out Jon Husted over donations from Epstein ‘co-conspirator’, now in Marietta

  • Ohioans in Marietta this week became the latest residents to publicly call out U.S. Sen. Jon Husted over the $116,892 he accepted from billionaire Les Wexner and his 2025 vote on an amendment to release federal records related to Jeffrey Epstein.
  • The Marietta gathering follows months of similar events in Columbus, Toledo, Youngstown, Westlake, Steubenville, Lima and Norwalk. Most of the people stepping to the microphone have been local residents — teachers, city and school-board officials and, in at least one case, a survivor of sexual abuse — who say they want answers about Husted’s judgment.
  • Campaign finance records from the Federal Election Commission and the Ohio Secretary of State, reviewed by TiffinOhio.net, show Husted accepted $116,892 from Wexner across 21 contributions between 2001 and 2025. The most recent was a $3,500 maximum donation to his Senate campaign on July 3, 2025. According to those records, Husted is the only senator up for re-election in 2026 who took money from Wexner during the current election cycle.
  • About two months after that July contribution, on Sept. 10, 2025, Husted voted against an amendment offered by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer that would have directed the attorney general to publicly release documents related to Epstein. The amendment, attached to the annual defense authorization bill, failed on a largely party-line vote of 51–49.

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