A Republican Senate candidate who fought to block the release of the Epstein files has accepted tens of thousands of dollars from billionaires whose names appear in the records, the Daily Beast has learned. Hinson, 43, accepted $7,000 from the private equity CEO on Sept. 10, just days after Rep. Thomas Massie officially brought forth the discharge petition that would ultimately compel the Epstein Files’ release. Schwarzman did not email Epstein directly and faces no accusations of any wrongdoing related to Epstein. Hinson's opponent in the Iowa Senate race is Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek. “She’s firmly on the side of the Epstein class and fought harder to prevent the release of the Epstein files than she has for the Iowans who are struggling from rising prices at the gas pump and grocery store.”