Trump Adviser Boris Epshteyn Under Scrutiny Over Allegations and Indictment

Boris Epshteyn, a long-serving adviser to Donald Trump and a member of his transition team, faces accusations of soliciting payments from individuals in exchange for promoting them for positions within the incoming administration. Epshteyn has labeled these allegations, which were the subject of an internal inquiry conducted by Trump’s legal team, as “false and defamatory.” The Trump campaign issued a statement indicating it is moving past the matter following a review of consulting agreements. These accusations and the investigation were initially brought to light by the conservative news outlet Just the News. Epshteyn holds a prominent position within Trump’s close associates, having appeared alongside the former president in court during a criminal trial earlier this year and on stage when Trump delivered his election victory speech this month. Furthermore, Epshteyn has been indicted in Arizona on charges of allegedly working to reverse the state’s legitimate 2020 election outcomes, with the aim of helping Trump remain in the White House after his loss to President Joe Biden. The allegations were formally presented in a sworn declaration submitted to Trump’s transition team by Eric Greitens, a Republican and former Governor of Missouri. Greitens stated in his declaration that Epshteyn’s “overall tone and behaviour gave me the impression of an implicit expectation to engage in business dealings with him before he would advocate for or suggest my appointment to the President.” CBS News, a news partner of the BBC, acquired and verified a copy of this declaration. Greitens informed CBS News, “It was important to me to protect the president because I was concerned about the ethics of what was happening.” He added, “Very specifically, I was concerned that there was an offer to advance a nomination in return for financial payments.” According to CBS, Greitens was seeking an appointment as US Navy Secretary and contacted Epshteyn for assistance. Greitens reported that Epshteyn suggested he would consider recommending him for the role if there was financial consideration. This interaction, Greitens wrote, created “a sense of unease and pressure on my part.” In a statement refuting the accusations, Epshteyn referred to them as “fake claims” and asserted they would not divert attention from the work of the incoming administration. Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, confirmed in a statement that a “broad review” of the campaign’s agreements with Epshteyn and other consultants had been finalized, and the team was “now moving ahead.” Trump himself addressed the investigation during an interview with Just the News, a conservative news outlet, stating that he does not approve of staffers soliciting consulting fees from individuals seeking positions in his administration. He declared, “No-one can promise any endorsement or nomination except me,” adding, “I make these decisions on my own, period.” Eric Trump, the son of Donald Trump, introduced his father to Epshteyn, as they had been classmates at Georgetown University. Epshteyn’s involvement with the Trump team began as a staffer during the 2016 presidential election campaign. He secured a junior White House communications role when Trump first took office but resigned unexpectedly two months later for reasons that remain unclear. Despite this, he has maintained his status as a loyal and close confidant of the President. Epshteyn has served as an adviser and attorney to Trump, assisting in managing the former president’s legal teams. These teams have overseen numerous criminal cases involving Trump and have successfully achieved delays and postponements in several legal proceedings. “I’ve known Boris for years, and I’ve never known him to be anything but a good human being,” Eric Trump commented in a Fox News interview on Monday. He further stated, “I certainly hope the reporting is false and I can also tell you if it’s true, you know, the person will probably no longer be around.” The New York Times reported that Epshteyn played a part in recommending former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz for the position of attorney general. Gaetz subsequently withdrew his name after encountering opposition to his nomination from his Republican colleagues in Congress. US media reports indicate that other individuals have also raised questions regarding Epshteyn’s motivations. Tech mogul and billionaire Elon Musk, who has reportedly joined Trump’s inner circle, is said to have inquired about Epshteyn’s influence on Trump. CNN reported a confrontation between Musk and Epshteyn at Mar-a-Lago, during which Musk reportedly made several accusations against the long-time adviser. In June, Epshteyn entered a plea of not guilty to felony charges in a case concerning the overturning of the 2020 presidential election results in Arizona.