Former Nebraska Democratic Governor and Senator Bob Kerrey’s name is in the Epstein Files, and the Nebraska Republican Party is trying to use that to their political advantage. They are demanding that all Democrat candidates plus independent candidate for senate Dan Osborn return any political donations Kerrey may have given them. 

Don’t hold your breath waiting for the Republicans to demand that Jim Pillen or any other Republican do the same for contributions Trump may have given them.  After all President Trump is mentioned in the Epstein Files ten thousand more times than Bob Kerrey.  But in politics what’s good for the goose isn’t always good for the gander.

Now to be clear as of now there is no proof that Senator Kerrey did anything illegal. According to a story published in the New School Free Press, Kerrey had 5 lunches with Epstein. Some were held at Epstein’s Manhattan Townhouse.  An argument could be made that Kerrey had a serious lapse in judgement since he met with Epstein after he was a convicted sex offender.  

After serving in the senate, Kerrey acted as president of the New School in New York. It appears his meetings with Epstein between 2013-2017 probably had something to do with Kerrey’s involvement with higher education.  

The argument could also be made that Trump’s connection to Epstein was far worse. The Epstein files have a report that the FBI interviewed a friend of an alleged victim. This victim’s friend said she knew a girl who said she bit Trump’s penis when he tried to force her to give him oral sex when she was 13 or14 years old.   

Whether that happened or not, at the very least Trump knew what Epstein was up to and continued to party with him while his crimes were being committed. 

It shouldn’t matter to what political party someone belongs to; get to the bottom of who did what and when during Jeffrey Epstein’s reign of terror.   

Democrats and Republicans alike are mentioned in the millions of files that have been released.  Not everyone who has their name in the files had any criminal connection to Epstein or Ghislane Maxwell.  But those who did should be prosecuted and if found guilty be severely punished.  

Britains’s Prince Andrew lost his royal title and was recently arrested for crimes he may have committed while associated with Epstein.  

Numerous elite businessmen, educators, and European politicians have resigned after their connection to Epstein has been revealed. 

But so far, President Trump and his friends and allies who were closely connected to Epstein like Steve Bannon and Howard Lutnick have faced no consequences. 

Yet the Nebraska Republican Party wants John Cavanaugh, Tony Vargas and others with no ties to Epstein to return Kerrey’s contributions.  

What the Nebraska Republican Party is asking for would be funny if the charges weren’t so serious.  By demanding these Democrats who accepted money from a man who had lunch with Jeffrey Epstein give the money back, it shines a bigger spotlight on the close connections Nebraska Republicans like Jim Pillen and Charles Herbster have with the President who spent many days and nights partying with Epstein.  

As far as I can tell there is no evidence that Bob Kerrey ever sang the praises of Jeffrey Epstein.  The same can’t be said about the numerous compliments President Trump threw at Epstein and Maxwell. 

There are millions of documents in the Epstein Files.  Thousands of people have been mentioned in the investigations.  Some had serious ties to the pedophile, others a passing acquaintance.  A few names that had no connection to Epstein whatsoever are mentioned as well. 

Nobody should get a pass on any crimes they may have committed just because they are rich or politically connected.  If England can arrest King Charles’s brother and have the King say that he’s going to let the courts decide his brother’s fate, the least America should expect is that our rich and powerful be held to the same standards.

So how about it Nebraska Republicans. I remember when you used to have integrity. Show some of that now and demand the same standards for your candidates.

By trying to attach local Democrats to the most heinous pedophile in history, you shone a bigger spotlight on the ties your guys have to one of his closest friends.  Mentioning that Bob Kerrey met with Epstein doesn’t give you the political advantage you thought it did. 

Tom Becka is a long time Nebraska broadcaster who for over 30 years has been covering Omaha and Midwest issues on both radio and TV. He has been a guest on numerous national cable and news shows, filled in for nationally syndicated talk radio programs and Talkers Magazine has recognized him as one of the Top 100 talk show hosts in the country 10 times. Never afraid to ruffle some feathers, his ‘Becka’s Beat’ commentaries can be found online on Youtube and other digital platforms.