Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) is turning up the heat in Nebraska’s Senate race, releasing a new campaign ad that calls attention to Independent candidate Dan Osborn and his now-canceled fundraiser with a prominent Democratic strategist whose name surfaced in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein files.
The ad highlights Osborn’s planned fundraising event with Dana Chasin, a high-level Democratic operative and member of the Rockefeller family. Chasin’s name appeared in an email contained within the Epstein files, reportedly referencing the alleged movement of children on a plane tied to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Chasin has strongly denied any wrongdoing, according to Politico.
In the ad, the Ricketts campaign argues that Osborn continued raising money alongside Chasin even after information about Chasin’s alleged connection became public. “Even after that information was public, Osborn continued to raise money with Chasin until he got caught,” the ad states.
Although the fundraiser was eventually scrapped, the controversy did not end there. An ActBlue donation link listing Chasin as part of the host committee reportedly remained active until Monday morning. After The Daily Wire contacted the Osborn campaign regarding the still-active fundraising page featuring Chasin’s name, the link was taken down.
Chasin has denied any direct involvement in the alleged misconduct connected to Epstein. He told Politico that he has “never owned or rented a prop plane, or any plane for that matter.” He also stated, “I stand with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and their pursuit of justice and accountability.”
The Osborn campaign has pushed back forcefully against the ad’s claims. Speaking on background, campaign officials described the allegations as “categorically false” and emphasized that the fundraiser was canceled once they became aware of Chasin’s alleged ties referenced in the Epstein files.
On the issue of campaign contributions, Osborn’s team said Chasin did not donate to his 2026 Senate race. The campaign also stated that it gave $3,300 to an anti-human trafficking charity to counteract a $3,300 donation Chasin had made during Osborn’s 2024 campaign cycle. Chasin reiterated his support for Epstein’s victims and their pursuit of justice.
Still, Ricketts’ campaign is framing the episode as a matter of principle and political consistency. Will Coup, communications director for Ricketts for Senate, criticized Osborn sharply in a statement to The Daily Wire.
“Dan Osborn built his brand on moral outrage over Epstein. But when a wealthy Democrat donor named in the Epstein files offered to host a fundraiser, that outrage disappeared fast. Fake Dan Osborn chose campaign cash over the values he pretends to stand for,” Coup said.
The controversy underscores the far-reaching political consequences stemming from the release of the Epstein files, which have sent shockwaves through governments and political establishments worldwide. Among the most high-profile developments abroad have been the arrests of former Prince Andrew and former British ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson in the United Kingdom.
As the Nebraska Senate race unfolds, Ricketts’ ad signals that questions surrounding Epstein-related associations remain politically potent — and that candidates’ past rhetoric and present actions are likely to face intense scrutiny from voters.
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