Hannah Pingree returns $300 campaign donation from former Jeffrey Epstein attorney
Pingree Campaign Returns $300 After Epstein‑Linked Donor Identified
The campaign team for Democrat Hannah Pingree, the front‑runner in the race for Maine governor, has refunded a total of $300 in campaign contributions made by Paul Hoffman, a resident of the U.S. Virgin Islands who once represented Jeffrey Epstein in business matters. The refund was announced on Monday afternoon after the Portland Press Herald reached out to the campaign for comment on the donations.
Who was involved
- Hannah Pingree – The former Maine House speaker from North Haven and Democratic gubernatorial candidate.
- Paul Hoffman – A Virgin Islands attorney who, according to Maine campaign‑finance filings, donated three $100 checks to Pingree’s campaign between May and June of this year.
- Mary‑Erin Casale – Spokesperson for the Pingree campaign who confirmed the refund.
- Chellie Pingree – U.S. Representative for Maine’s 1st Congressional District, mother of Hannah Pingree.
- Sen. Angus King – Independent U.S. Senator from Maine who received a $250 contribution from Hoffman in 2012.
- Donald Sussman – Financier and former owner of the Press Herald who once hired Hoffman.
What happened
Maine’s campaign‑finance database shows that Hoffman donated $300 in three separate $100 contributions between May and June. The total amount represented less than one percent of the more than $4.2 million raised by Pingree since she announced her bid to replace Gov. Janet Mills. After the Press Herald flagged the donor’s background—Hoffman had acted on Epstein’s behalf in business matters—the Pingree campaign issued a public statement and refunded the full amount.
“We immediately refunded his $300 in full,” spokesperson Mary‑Erin Casale told the paper. “When Paul Hoffman’s background and contribution was brought to our attention, we acted promptly.”
The campaign’s refund came after the Press Herald’s inquiry, which was part of a larger investigation into donors with ties to Epstein. The story highlighted that Hoffman, while not accused of criminal conduct, had represented Epstein in business transactions. He also had served as an attorney for financier Donald Sussman, the former Press Herald owner and ex‑husband of Representative Chellie Pingree.
Why the refund matters
The decision to refund is one of several moves by Maine campaigns to distance themselves from donors linked to Epstein. In 2022, Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, faced scrutiny after a campaign committee received a donation from a donor later identified as having worked with Epstein. The situation prompted calls for transparency and led to broader questions about political contributions from individuals with controversial associations.
Hoffman has not faced any criminal charges related to Epstein’s case. His involvement was limited to business matters, and he has not been identified as an Epstein associate in any legal proceedings. Nevertheless, the association has raised concerns among voters and campaign observers.
Other donor connections
The investigation also noted that Paul Hoffman had donated a few thousand dollars to Representative Chellie Pingree over a period from 2007 to 2016. In 2012, he gave $250 to U.S. Sen. Angus King, as recorded in federal campaign‑finance data. Additionally, two Virgin Islands lawyers—Jeff Schantz and Erika Kellerhals—who have ties to Epstein, contributed a combined sum of more than $20,000 to Chellie Pingree between 2007 and 2011. At the time of those contributions, the congresswoman reportedly had no knowledge of the donors’ later‑emerging links to Epstein.
Contextual background
Jeffrey Epstein’s name has continued to surface in political finance discussions since his 2019 death in a New York federal prison. A 2025 bill passed by Congress now requires the federal government to release extensive files on the financier’s activities, and all four members of Maine’s congressional delegation supported the measure. The files detail Epstein’s connections to a range of public figures, including former U.S. Senator George Mitchell of Maine, who was named in the documents hundreds of times. That same month, the University of Maine’s board of trustees voted to rename programs bearing Mitchell’s name.
Moving forward
Hoffman has not responded to requests for comment. The Pingree campaign’s swift action underscores a broader trend in Maine politics: candidates are increasingly scrutinizing their donors’ histories to preempt reputational damage. While the refunded amount is modest compared to the campaign’s overall fundraising totals, the incident highlights the ongoing influence of the Epstein scandal in state and national elections.
