¶ Overview
Pete Ricketts never saw a check he didn’t like, no matter who wrote it. He took tens of thousands of dollars in donations from documented Epstein associates without batting an eye. Then, on Capitol Hill, he voted against releasing the Epstein Files, claiming the issue “falls down below” his legislative priorities. Only after months of mounting pressure and Trump’s blessing did Ricketts vote to release the files. Despite his flip-flop late in the game, Ricketts claimed he had “long pushed” for the release of the Epstein Files. Nebraskans know better.
¶ Ricketts Took Money From Epstein Associates
¶ Ricketts Accepted $65,400 From Epstein Affiliate And Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman And His Spouse
Ricketts Accepted $65,400 From Epstein Affiliate And Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman And His Spouse. [FEC – American Excellence PAC, Pete Ricketts Victory Fund, Pete Ricketts for Senate, 9/10/26]
- Schwarzman And Epstein Belonged To The Same Exclusive New York Club. According to The Wall Street Journal, “The Core Club promised to bring together luminaries in business, arts, technology and culture in hopes of sparking some greater collective alchemy. Its early members included such boldfaced names as Johnson & Johnson heir Woody Johnson, Blackstone Chief Executive Stephen Schwarzman and former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold. Yet lurking at the core of the Core Club was Jeffrey Epstein.” [Wall Street Journal, 2/15/26]
¶ Ricketts Took $37,200 From Epstein Buddy Marc Rowan And His Spouse
Ricketts Took $37,200 From Epstein Buddy Marc Rowan And His Spouse. [FEC – American Excellence PAC, Pete Ricketts for Senate, 9/10/26]
- Rowan Maintained A Close Relationship With Epstein Over Several Years. According to The Daily Pennsylvanian, “Marc Rowan — the outgoing chair of the Wharton School’s Board of Advisors — maintained a documented relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which involved phone calls and multiple visits to Epstein’s New York home, according to email exchanges released by the Department of Justice last week. An analysis by The Daily Pennsylvanian found that Rowan, who earned a Wharton bachelor’s degree in 1984 and a Wharton MBA in 1985, remained in contact with Epstein between 2013 and 2016. The emails include discussions about a potential purchase of Rowan’s private jet and multiple plans to meet for breakfast at Epstein’s home.” [Daily Pennsylvanian, 2/2/26]
¶ Ricketts Voted Against Releasing The Epstein Files
¶ Ricketts Minimized The Importance Of The Epstein Files
[VIDEO] Ricketts Said The Epstein Files Issue “Falls Down Below” His Legislative Priorities. “REPORTER: My question at the moment is I'm hoping to get your thoughts on the Jeffrey Epstein situation and with the entire development there and then leading into today, you know, whether the files will be released or not released or is there a list? And then today, the president of that state claiming a Jeffrey Epstein hoax. and I apologize for my language, but I'm quoting the commander in chief calling it bullshit. I'm just curious if you, as a U.S. senator, have thoughts on where all this is going. RICKETTS: Frankly, we have got so many issues that we're dealing with right now that I think are a priority. Obviously, we just passed the one big, beautiful bill, but we also have a rescissions package that is on the floor today. We've got to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which we use to be able to fund our military every year. So that's a priority to be able to get done. We've got to pass a farm bill because that's important for agriculture. We've got to pass appropriations bills because that's the proper process to be able to fund our government. We've got so many priorities right now. This actually falls down below those priorities. So I think in the grand scheme of things, we're going to focus on the things we need to do to push this country forward. No, I'm not trying to, you know, dismiss the Jeffrey Epstein case. But right now in the US Senate, we've got to focus on these big issues for the country.” [Ricketts Press Call, 7/16/25]
¶ Ricketts Voted Against Forcing The Release Of The Epstein Files
September 2025: Ricketts Effectively Voted Against Releasing The Epstein Files. In September 2025, Ricketts voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, the “motion to table (kill) the Schumer, D-N.Y., amendment no. 3849 to the language proposed to be stricken by the Wicker, R-Miss., substitute amendment no. 3748 to the bill. The Schumer amendment would require the attorney general, within 30 days of the bill's enactment, to make publicly available, to the ‘maximum extent possible,’ all Justice Department records, documents, communications and investigation material related to the department’s investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and other individuals or entities associated with Epstein. It would require the DOJ to disclose any immunity deals or plea bargains involving Epstein or his associates. It would allow the Justice Department to withhold or redact certain materials to protect victims' privacy, among other limited exceptions. It also would require the attorney general, within 15 days of making such records public, to report to Congress on the materials it has released, including a list of any redactions made and the legal justification for doing so, and a list of any government officials, public figures and foreign dignitaries named in the records.” The vote was on the motion to table. The vote was on the motion to table the amendment. The underlying legislation was the FY 2026 defense authorization. The Senate agreed to the motion by a vote of 51 to 49. [Senate Vote 512, 9/10/25; Congressional Quarterly, 9/10/25; Congressional Actions, S.Amdt. 3849; Congressional Actions, S.2296]
- Two Republicans Joined All Democrats In Voting To Compel The Release Of The Epstein Files. According to NBC News, “The Republican-led Senate narrowly voted Wednesday to defeat an amendment introduced by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to compel the Justice Department to release all of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The vote was 51-49 in favor of tabling the amendment. Two Republicans — Rand Paul of Kentucky and Josh Hawley of Missouri — joined all 47 Democrats in voting against tabling the amendment.” [NBC News, 9/10/25]
- Senator Schumer Used A Procedural Tactic To Force A Vote On The Files, Proposing An Amendment Mirroring House Language. According to NBC News, “In a surprise move earlier Wednesday, Schumer had used a procedural tactic to force a floor vote on the Epstein files. He pitched an amendment to the sweeping defense policy bill being debated by the Senate. His amendment mirrored the language of bipartisan legislation from Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who have vowed to force a similar vote in the House.” [NBC News, 9/10/25]
- Senator Thune Referred To The Move As A “Political Stunt” And “Hostile Act. ” According to NBC News, “Schumer's surprise move — which Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., dismissed as a ‘political stunt’ and a ‘hostile act’ — comes just two days after the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the Epstein case, released a new trove of documents stemming from a subpoena it sent to Epstein's estate.” [NBC News, 9/10/25]
¶ Ricketts Flip-Flopped And Allowed A Bill Compelling Release Of The Files To Pass Amid Mounting Pressure
November Ricketts Flip-Flopped And Allowed A Bill Compelling Release Of The Files To Pass The Senate Via Unanimous Consent. According to the Nebraska Examiner, “Every member of Nebraska’s all-Republican congressional delegation voted for a bill to compel the U.S. Department of Justice to release all files related to its investigation into late Florida sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. […] Hours after the House vote, the Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent. It heads to Trump Tuesday evening. U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., told the Examiner he would vote for it. ‘Jeffrey Epstein committed disgusting, illegal acts. I support releasing the Epstein files. Protecting his victims is also incredibly important,’ Ricketts said.” [Nebraska Examiner, 11/18/25]
¶ Ricketts Claimed He Had “Long Pushed” For The Release Of The Epstein Files
Ricketts Claimed He Had “Long Pushed” For The Release Of The Epstein Files Following Senate’s Passage Of The Bill. According to a press release from Sen. Ricketts, “Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) released a statement after supporting passage of a bill to compel the Justice Department to release the Epstein files: ‘Jeffrey Epstein committed disgusting, illegal acts. I’ve long pushed for transparency and the release of the Epstein files. That’s why I supported passage tonight. I appreciate Leader Thune for passing it through the Senate as quickly as possible.’” [Press Release – Sen. Ricketts, 11/18/25]