Senior Trump Assistant Accused of Participating in Pay-to-Play Arrangement with Potential Cabinet Members

NEW YORK‍ — Boris Epshteyn, a senior adviser to president-elect Donald Trump, is under fire following accusations that he sought payments from prospective⁢ Cabinet members in recent months, as initially reported by CNN on Monday.

The Trump team conducted an internal investigation into the actions of ⁤Trump aide Boris Epshteyn. They concluded that Epshteyn had ‍tried to exploit his position within Trump’s inner circle and⁢ his relationships⁣ with top‌ Trump transition officials for ⁢personal gain.

CNN reports⁢ that Epshteyn allegedly solicited payments from several individuals who were​ interested in securing positions in Trump’s Cabinet, assuring them he would lobby on ​their behalf. ​One of⁣ the‌ individuals ​Epshteyn allegedly approached was Scott Bessent, Trump’s nominee for Treasury secretary, who rejected Epshteyn’s proposal.

The ‌New York Times reports that the ​internal investigation discovered Epshteyn had suggested to Bessent a monthly fee of $30,000 ⁢to $40,000 to ‌’promote’ Bessent within the‌ Mar-a-Lago⁣ circle, Trump’s ⁢estate in Florida.

In ​a statement to CNN, Epshteyn refuted any wrongdoing. “I am privileged ⁢to serve President Trump and his team,” Bessent‍ stated. “These baseless allegations are false and defamatory and‌ will not ⁤deter us from⁤ our mission to‌ Make America Great Again.”

Steven Cheung,​ the incoming White House communications director, confirmed in a‍ statement to CNN that‍ a “comprehensive review of the campaign’s consulting agreements has been carried out and concluded, including Boris, among others. We are now moving forward as a team to⁤ support President Trump in his⁢ mission to Make America Great Again.”

Epshteyn has been a key ‍player in⁢ Trump’s team for a long​ time.⁢ He collaborated closely with Trump’s legal team in the 2020 bid to overturn the presidential ⁣election results. He is currently facing‌ felony charges in ‍the Arizona “fake elector” case for his involvement.

Epshteyn has also played a significant role in Trump’s transition ‍efforts. He has attended “critical meetings and candidate briefings,” as reported by CNN, and has accompanied Trump on his travels.

Earlier this month, Politico ⁤reported that Epshteyn was⁤ primarily responsible for Trump’s now-withdrawn nomination of former Rep. Matt Gaetz for ⁣attorney general. While on a trip together, Epshteyn persuaded Trump ‍to ​choose Gaetz, according to Politico, “while the ‌incoming White House ⁤chief of staff Susie Wiles was in a separate, nearby ‍room on ‍the plane, seemingly oblivious.”

On Monday night,‌ Eric Trump, the president-elect’s son, ⁢spoke on Fox News about his long-standing relationship with Epshteyn. “I’ve known⁤ Boris for years, and ⁣he’s always been a good person,” he said. “However, my father has made it ⁢abundantly clear that such⁢ behavior is unacceptable ⁢under any⁤ circumstances. I sincerely hope the‍ reports are inaccurate. … If they are accurate, the individual in question will likely be dismissed.”

The Times reported that the Trump team’s internal investigation, led by attorney‍ David Warrington, recommended that Epshteyn’s close⁣ relationship with ⁢Trump should be “terminated.”