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Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) accepted campaign donations from known Jeffrey Epstein associates, while taking legislative action to block the release of the Epstein files. More names of Collins' donors with Epstein ties have been identified since the first MeidasTouch report.
In September of 2025, Collins accepted a $10,000 donation from Epstein associate Casey Wasserman, including $7,000 to her campaign committee and $3,000 to Dirigo PAC, a political action committee sponsored by Collins. Wasserman also hosted a Hollywood fundraiser for Collins.
Wasserman was forced to sell his business after his close friendship with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell became public. Wasserman had taken multiple flights with Epstein and exchanged emails of a sexual nature to Maxwell, saying among other things, "I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?"
In another email, Maxwell asked Wasserman whether it will be foggy enough during an upcoming visit "so that you can float naked down the beach and no one can see you unless they are close up?"
Collins also accepted $2,800 from Epstein associate Leon Black. Black resigned as CEO of Apollo Global Management due to his relationship with Epstein. Black and Jeffrey Epstein knew each other for decades, “Often socialized and dined together,” and Black was a lucrative client for Epstein until Epstein’s death.
Black was accused of sexual assault by a woman interviewed by the FBI and federal prosecutors as part of investigations into potential co-conspirators of Jeffrey Epstein, but denied any wrongdoing. Black described his relationship with Epstein as one largely limited to tax strategy, estate planning and philanthropic advice.
Elon Musk donated $2,800 to the Collins for Senator committee. Musk was "featured prominently" in the Epstein files. According to The Washington Post, Musk had “repeated email exchanges” with Epstein, including asking Epstein about parties and attempting to meet on Epstein’s island in 2012. These exchanges came AFTER Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to one count of soliciting prostitution and one count of soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18, and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.
Black Rock CEO Steven Schwarzman donated $3 million to Pine Tree Results, a Super PAC that supports Susan Collins, including a $2 million donation in 2025, and $1 million in 2026.
Schwarzman and Epstein were founders and members of an exclusive social club for billionaires in New York called the Core Club. Epstein was described as “lurking at the core of the Core Club,” which by the mid-2000’s had become a ritzy “hub for real estate’s elite” bringing together the wealthiest in multiple industries including Schwarzman, Aby Rosen of RFR, Steven Roth of Vornado Realty Trust, and Estee Lauder Executive Chairman William Lauder.
The Wall Street Journal dubbed the Core Club “The Private Manhattan Club With a Jeffrey Epstein Problem” in a piece from February of this year.
Epstein also called Schwarzman, “terrific” in an email to an associate in 2010:
After taking tens of thousands in donations from Epstein associates, and millions donated to aligned Super PAC's, Collins consistently voted to stop the release of the Epstein files to the public. In September 2025 Collins voted with all Republicans to defeat a Democratic effort to insert language forcing the release of Epstein files into an annual defense appropriations bill. Collins then voted to table a proposed amendment that would have directed the Department of Justice to release the Epstein files. That vote was 51-49 with Sens. Hawley and Paul the only Republicans voting against the motion.
In August 2025, Collins refused to answer questions from Fox News Digital Capitol Hill reporter when pressed on the Epstein files. "I'm going," Collins said, before abruptly walking away.
Collins was standing next to Trump with a red "America is Back" hat during a bill signing in February 2026 when Trump deflected questions from reporters about the Epstein files after the Senate passed legislation to release the files with unanimous consent. "I think it’s really time for the country to get onto something else, really," Trump said to a reporter while Collins said nothing next to him. The Maine Beacondescribed the scene by writing, "Any past divisions between Pres. Donald Trump and Maine’s senior senator weren’t in view on Tuesday as Sen. Susan Collins stood next to Trump at a bill signing."
That Oval Office signing ceremony was also the occasion Trump took to attack CNN reporter Kaitlin Collins; saying "she never smiles" and calling her a liar when she pressed the President about protecting Epstein's victims. Susan Collins and other Republicans in the room were heavily criticized for standing silently while Trump verbally attacked Kaitlin Collins.
Susan Collins has been on the wrong side of the fight for transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. She has consistently been a vote to keep the Epstein files from coming to light after taking money from men who are featured prominently therein.
Collins is running for her sixth six-year term in the Senate in November.
Related: Campaign Donations Tie Susan Collins PACs to Figures Linked to Jeffrey Epstein
