While several prominent Democrats are choosing to boycott President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, California Representative Ro Khanna is taking a different approach. Not only does he plan to attend, but he is also bringing a guest whose past associations are now raising eyebrows and reviving uncomfortable questions.
NOW - Democrat Al Green removed from Congress by security after unfurling a "BLACK PEOPLE AREN'T APES!" sign. pic.twitter.com/2DRbFGfcxU
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) February 25, 2026
Khanna’s invited guest, Haley Robson, has been linked in past reports to Jeffrey Epstein’s orbit. According to accounts from 2004 and 2005, Robson was allegedly paid by Epstein to recruit young girls. The claims place her within the broader network that enabled Epstein’s criminal enterprise—an operation that has remained the subject of intense public scrutiny and political debate for years.
Why are you brining an Epstein co-conspirator?
This is all politics to you. You don’t care about the actual victims. pic.twitter.com/YU20yis7oy
— AG (@AGHamilton29) February 24, 2026
Robson has reportedly compared herself to Heidi Fleiss, the so-called “Hollywood Madam” whose high-profile prostitution ring scandalized the entertainment industry in the 1990s. That comparison alone underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the shadow cast by her past associations. Epstein’s crimes, and the vast network of individuals tied to him, have fueled widespread outrage across the political spectrum, with repeated calls for transparency, accountability, and the full release of investigative files.
"Survivor"
That's a funny way to spell "recruiter". pic.twitter.com/RCJzUcMlFX— Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) February 24, 2026
Khanna’s decision to invite Robson arrives at a moment when the Epstein saga continues to dominate headlines and social media discourse. For months, activists, commentators, and journalists have pressed for deeper scrutiny of Epstein’s network and demanded answers about who knew what—and when. The issue has often been framed as a moral imperative centered on justice for victims.
Looking forward to journalists writing stories and asking Ro Khanna why he is bringing an Epstein recruiter to SOTU...
They surely will cover this right? Or are they just in the bag for anti-Trump forces? https://t.co/nb7iiAoCKd pic.twitter.com/MhAPqBkjy8
— Alex Pfeiffer (@AlexPfeiffer) February 24, 2026
Yet the reaction to Khanna’s guest choice may test whether that scrutiny is applied evenly. Will members of the press question the congressman about Robson’s reported past ties? Or will the controversy pass with little comment, overshadowed by the larger spectacle of the State of the Union address?