Hochul's Tax Policy Contradicts Her Epstein Condemnation Due to Donor Connections
Source: Branko Marcetic. "The Kathy Hochul Donors in the Jeffrey Epstein Files." March 25, 2026. jacobin.com
The Gist
The author argues that Governor Hochul looks hypocritical because she condemns Jeffrey Epstein while refusing to tax the same wealthy people who donated to her campaigns and appear in Epstein's files. Her tax policy protects the financial interests of donors who had connections to a convicted sex trafficker she publicly criticized.
Conclusion
Governor Kathy Hochul's refusal to tax wealthy New Yorkers undermines her moral authority to condemn Jeffrey Epstein and his associates, given that some of her major donors appear in the Epstein files
Premises
- Several of Hochul's major billionaire donors (Blavatnik, Peltz, Diller, Secunda, Tudor Jones) appear in the Jeffrey Epstein files with documented connections to the convicted sex trafficker
- Hochul has publicly called for the release of Epstein files and condemned those associated with him
- Hochul is currently refusing to raise taxes on New York's ultrarich to fund her universal childcare platform
- The same wealthy donors who would benefit from her tax policy are among those with Epstein connections revealed in the files
- This creates a contradiction between her moral condemnation of Epstein associates and her protection of their financial interests through tax policy
Assumptions
- Political donations create obligations or influence over policy decisions
- Moral condemnation should be consistent with policy actions
- Appearing in the Epstein files indicates meaningful association with him
- Wealthy donors' tax interests conflict with public funding needs
- Public officials should avoid conflicts between their rhetoric and policy beneficiaries