WASHINGTON (AP) — The top lawyer for Donald Trump’s transition team is investigating a former adviser to the president-elect over allegations that he used his closeness to Trump to extract payments from those seeking a role or influence in the new government.
Attorney David Warrington’s investigation recommended that Trump aides sharply limit adviser Boris Epshteyn’s access to the newly elected president, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an internal matter.
The personnel drama highlights the unusual and often disorganized cast of characters around Trump who contributed to the chaos of his first term, some of whom are part of the transition to the second term as he looks to build out his administration before taking office on January 1. 20.
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Among those Epshteyn allegedly requested payments from is Scott Bessent, Trump’s nominee for Treasury Secretary. Bessent waged a months-long campaign to land the job, but reportedly faced opposition from Epshteyn after the hedge fund director failed to agree to pay him a substantial retainer.
The review also looked at a complaint from former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens, who resigned amid scandal but had expressed interest in joining Trump’s administration. Greitens signed a statement last week reporting a Nov. 7 conversation with Epshteyn alleging that his “overall tone and conduct gave me the impression of an implicit expectation to enter into business transactions with him before advocating or would propose my appointment as president. . This created a feeling of unease and pressure for me.”
Epshteyn is not accused of doing anything illegal — securing fees for access to high-ranking government officials is the bread and butter of the Washington lobbying establishment — but the investigation appeared designed to undermine his prominent position within Trump’s sphere of influence. weaken or eliminate. The newly elected president has long been annoyed by those who he believes used him for their own personal gain.
“As standard practice, a broad review of the campaign’s consulting agreements has been conducted and completed, including with regard to Boris, among others,” said Trump communications director Steven Cheung. “We now move forward together as a team to help President Trump Make America Great Again.”
Veterans of other presidential campaigns and transitions said such a review was anything but standard, and Cheung did not comment on Epshteyn’s role going forward.
Epshteyn, who briefly served in a mid-level role in Trump’s first White House, became a central player in Trump’s life after he left office in 2021. He was one of the architects of Trump’s legal team and strategy as the former president faced a slew of challenges. of criminal and civil threats following the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol and its efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Epshteyn himself was indicted in Arizona on state charges related to alleged attempts by Trump allies to undermine that election, and has pleaded not guilty. He holds the title of senior counsel and senior adviser to Trump, but even before the overhaul he was not expected to play a role in the new administration.
“I am honored to work for President Trump and with his team,” Epshteyn said in a statement. “These false claims are false and defamatory and will not distract us from Making America Great Again.”
Eric Trump, the president-elect’s son who went to college with Epshteyn, told Fox News that if the reported allegations were true, his old friend might not be in the campaign much longer.
“Listen, I’ve known Boris for years, and I’ve never seen him as anything other than a good person,” Eric Trump said Monday. “That said, I can tell you that my father has been incredibly clear. You don’t do that, you don’t do that under any circumstances. And believe me, there will be repercussions if someone does.”
The Epshteyn investigation was first reported by the conservative website Just the News.
‘I imagine that every president has people around him who try to make money from them from the outside. It’s unfortunate, but it happens,” Trump told the website. “But no one who works for me in any capacity should want to make money. They should only be here to make America great again.”
During the 2022 midterm elections, some close to Trump also represented candidates seeking his support, leading to accusations that aides were taking advantage of their closeness to the former president.
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Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.
