Trump Adviser Boris Epshteyn Investigated For Allegedly Seeking Payments From Admin Hopefuls—What To Know About Him

Topline

President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers have investigated one of his top advisers, Boris Epshteyn, over claims he sought payments from aspiring staffers in exchange for promoting them to Trump, according to multiple reports—allegations denied by Epshteyn, a longtime aide who has clashed with other members of the president-elect’s orbit.

Key Facts

Lawyers for Trump conducted an internal investigation into the claims, including one instance in which Epshteyn allegedly sought $100,000 per month for his services, according to CNN, which cited six unnamed sources familiar with the probe, including two who said the lawyers recommended Epshteyn be removed from Trump’s proximity and employment.

As part of the investigation, former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens made a sworn declaration to the transition team that “Epshteyn’s overall tone and behavior 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,” adding it “created a sense of unease and pressure on my part,” CBS reported, citing the declaration, which was first obtained by Just The News and verified to the network by Greitens and his lawyer, Timothy Parlatore.

Epshteyn has denied the claims, reportedly sending cease-and-desist letters to people denying the pay-to-play allegations and threatening legal action after learning about the investigation, according to CNN.

Epshteyn called the claims “false and defamatory” in a statement to CNN and CBS that said “they will not distract us from Making America Great Again,” adding he is “honored to work for President Trump and with his team.”

An unnamed Trump transition team official described the probe as an “administrative review” of Epshteyn and other outside contractors and consultants intended to “ensure everything was properly done and there weren’t any red flags,” Semafor reported.

Trump transition spokesperson Steven Cheung acknowledged a probe in response to CNN and CBS, describing it in a statement as a “standard practice” and “broad review of the campaign’s consulting agreements” that included Epshteyn, “among others.”

Who Else Has Epshteyn Feuded With?

Epshteyn has reportedly clashed with key Trump allies in recent weeks, including Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent, transition team co-chair Howard Lutnick and billionaire Trump backer and informal adviser Elon Musk. Multiple outlets reported Musk has raised concerns about Epshteyn’s sway over Trump, and the two had a verbal altercation at Mar-A-Lago earlier this month, according to CNN and The Washington Post. CNN also reported Bessent was among those Epshteyn sought payment from, and the two also had an argument in the lobby of Mar-A-Lago last week, with Epshteyn raising his voice at Bessent. Lutnick reportedly tried to stop Ephsteyn from joining a recent transition team meeting at Mar-A-Lago, prompting Epshteyn to physically push Lutnick out of the way to enter the room, according to two unnamed sources familiar with the incident and cited by The Post, though a third unnamed source said Epshteyn simply brushed by Lutnick. Both declined to comment to The Post. A source close to them told the paper they “have been working closely together in assisting President Trump in putting together the greatest administration in American history.”

Who Is Boris Epshteyn?

A lawyer by training who was born in Russia and raised in the U.S., Epshteyn has been a figure in Trump’s orbit since his 2016 campaign, once described by Steve Bannon as Trump’s “wartime consigliere.” He was a key player in promoting Trump’s false claims that the 2020 electron was stolen from him and was charged in Arizona for his role in attempting to reverse Trump’s loss in the state. He pleaded not guilty in the case in June. Epshteyn served a stint as a special assistant to the president in 2017 and has since remained loyal to Trump, appearing alongside him in court in his New York hush money trial and reportedly overseeing some of Trump’s defense attorneys—in some cases clashing with Trump’s other lawyers. Since Trump’s victory, Epshteyn has reportedly advised him on cabinet picks, including advocating for former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., as Trump’s initial pick for attorney general, according to CNN and The Post. Epshteyn’s Georgetown Advisory firm received $53,500 per month in payments for communications and legal consulting services from the Trump campaign this year, according to campaign finance records cited by CNN.

Further Reading

Giuliani Disbarred In D.C.: Here Are All The Other Ex-Trump Lawyers Now Facing Legal Consequences (Forbes)

Trump’s Cabinet And Key Jobs: Trump Rounds Out Nominees—As RFK Jr., Hegseth Face Controversies (Forbes)

Trump Allies—Including Giuliani And Mark Meadows—Will Face Arizona Criminal Trial In Jan. 2026 (Forbes)