Democratic candidates running for upstate seats were coached by billionaires with ties to late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and notorious sex cults.

George Whiteside, the Democratic candidate for California's battleground 27th District, is the former CEO of Virgin Galactic, a company founded by billionaire Richard Branson, and former CEO of Virgin Galactic, a company founded by billionaire Richard Branson. , has ties to the cult NXIVM, which is said to have seduced women into sexual slavery. (Related: Driver reveals how much he was paid for each girl he delivered to Jeffrey Epstein)

“I think Richard was a big influence on me. He's a really great person, a great leader, and I learned a lot from him.” Whitesides Said In an interview in March 2013. “From starting with very little resources at the forefront of his career to building a mobile empire with the Virgin brand, what he's accomplished in his career is incredible and that's a testament to this man. I think.”

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The Washington Examiner previously reported that Whitesides is using personal wealth accumulated from Virgin Galactic, the space tourism company founded by Branson, to fund his campaign. report. He served as the company's first CEO from May 2010 to July 2020 and held various advisory roles for the company until February 2023, when he began running for Congress. linkedin It is written in the profile.

Before becoming Virgin Galactic's CEO, Mr. and Mrs. Whitesides became the first married couple. honeymoon in spaceand was one of the first people to use Virgin Galactic's space travel services.

Republican Rep. Mike Garcia won California's 27th Congressional District beat Democratic challenger Christy Smith 53.2% to 46.8%. Garcia, Whiteside and another Democratic candidate are running in California's bipartisan primary. Democratic California senators including Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, Eric Swalwell, Ted Lieu, Ro Khanna, Zoe Lofgren, Judy Chu, and Josh Harder have supported Whiteside's campaign. his website Touts.

Whiteside raised $3 million in 2023 and gave $270,000 to his campaign, the Federal Election Commission (FEC). record show. Virgin Galactic paid Mr. Whiteside $8.3 million in compensation during his 10 years running the company, according to corporate financial documents. Disclose. His campaign did not respond to requests for comment.

branson's name appears In Epstein's “little black book” of powerful contacts, Epstein had recorded three of Branson's phone numbers. Epstein's former home, the infamous Little St. James Island in the US Virgin Islands, is 54 miles from Branson's island in the British Virgin Islands, according to reports. seattle times.

Three years after Epstein went to prison for child prostitution, Epstein and Branson allegedly had breakfast together, according to court documents in the U.S. Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase case. daily mail Reported in July.

Branson's name also appeared in a September 2013 email obtained by authorities. daily mail About Branson potentially attending a dinner party scheduled by Epstein. A source from Brunson's camp said. daily beast Branson reportedly did not attend the dinner.

Epstein died in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His partner, socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, is currently waiter Sentenced to 20 years in prison for colluding with Epstein.

In January, a trove of new court documents were discovered on Epstein's defendant Virginia Giuffre. defamation lawsuit The case against Maxwell was released by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Former President Bill Clinton, disgraced British royal Prince Andrew, deceased former Democratic New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, deceased model scout Jean-Luc Brunel, businessman Thomas Pritzker, and deceased physicist. Celebrities named in the report include Stephen Hawking and billionaire Les Wexner. Documents filed with the court.

Branson's name appears Submission to court The documents include Epstein allegedly having sex with trafficked girls and other celebrities, including Clinton, Prince Andrew, Branson and former President Donald Trump, whose names are also listed in court filings. It includes discredited claims that he recorded a sex tape showing himself having sex.Epstein defendant Sarah Ransom admitted new yorker She fabricated the sex tape allegations to draw attention to Epstein's actions.

“In a New Yorker report published in 2019, Ransom admitted to 'inventing' tape. “We can confirm that Sarah Ransom's claims are baseless and unsubstantiated,” a spokesperson for Mr Branson's holding company, Virgin Group, said. sky news. Virgin Group did not respond to a request for comment.

Branson suspect sponsored party Confining members of the NXIVM (pronounced “nexium”) cult on a private island; NXIVM class.Former cult spokesperson claimed NXIVM hosted seminars Hire Branson In 2007 and 2010, several members of the organization visited Branson's private island for seminars.

“Young Ville” actress Allison Mack is accused of recruiting 25 women to her cult and ordering the sex “slaves” to sleep with NXIVM leader Keith Raniere, a former NXIVM spokesperson was accused by. report.

Mack was sentenced to three years in prison for extortion charges related to his work with NXIVM, and was released in 2023 after serving 21 months in prison. In October 2020, Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in prison. Sentence For numerous racketeering and sex trafficking crimes related to his activities leading NXIVM.Branson is was denied Any connection to NXIVM and Raniere.

“Sir Richard Branson has never heard of or met Keith Raniere and there is no connection whatsoever between Sir Richard and the NXIVM Group or its leadership,” a spokesperson said. said. Sun.

A Virgin spokeswoman declined to comment on the relationship between Mr Branson and Mr Whiteside. They referred to Brunson's past statements to the Daily Caller regarding the Epstein and NXIVM allegations.

Mr. Brunson has not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing.