Controversy Surrounds Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson Over Missed Votes and Donor Links
Iowa Representative Ashley Hinson finds herself in the spotlight for accepting significant contributions from billionaire donors associated with Jeffrey Epstein. Questions have also arisen regarding her absence from key votes in the House Appropriations Committee, where she could have influenced decisions related to Epstein’s case.
Hinson, who is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, missed several votes aimed at revealing details about Epstein’s criminal activities and holding those involved accountable. Although her absence didn’t change the outcome of the votes, it raises concerns about her dedication to the cause of sexual assault survivors.
Jeffrey Epstein’s death by suicide in a Manhattan jail came shortly after his 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. In September 2025, during debates about releasing Justice Department files related to Epstein, Hinson missed significant votes, including one on September 3 to expedite the file release and another to prevent the use of public funds to withhold visitor logs of Epstein’s properties and private jet.
Further absences occurred on September 10, 2025, when amendments concerning Epstein were up for discussion in the committee. This included an amendment encouraging the Justice Department to disclose records about Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison transfer, a key figure in Epstein’s crimes, who was controversially transferred to a minimum-security prison in August 2025.
Despite missing these critical votes, Hinson was present for other unrelated votes on the same day, indicating her presence in Washington D.C. at the time. Other missed amendment votes involved limiting the Justice Department’s ability to withhold Epstein files and mandating an attorney general report on the investigation.
Interestingly, on the same day as these votes, Hinson received donations from billionaire Stephen A. Schwarzman, who is mentioned multiple times in Epstein’s files. Schwarzman contributed $7,000 to her U.S. Senate campaign and $5,000 to her leadership PAC.
Initially, Hinson refrained from signing a petition that could have forced a House vote on the Epstein files’ release. However, she later supported the file release during a floor vote. Additionally, she missed an August committee vote concerning an amendment to prevent public funding for lifting sanctions on alleged child traffickers.
Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA), who introduced the amendment, stated, “For too long, the powerful have used their connections to dodge consequences. This amendment stops taxpayer dollars from being used to lift sanctions on credible child traffickers.”
Hinson is currently running for the U.S. Senate in Iowa, facing Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek in what is anticipated to be a highly competitive race in 2026.
