Senate Dems call for communications between Boris Epshteyn and Trump nominees to be preserved

Two Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats on Thursday asked the incoming Republican leadership to request that all nominees under their consideration preserve any communications with Trump campaign advisor Boris Epshteyn, according to a letter obtained by Just the News. 

Epshteyn came under scrutiny by those close to President-elect Donald Trump after Just the News reported the close advisor was soliciting political candidates, a defense contractor and at least one Cabinet nominee for lucrative consulting contracts at the same time he was being paid by the campaign and advising the president-elect on legal matters. 

More than a dozen candidates for congressional election or job seekers in the new administration told Just the News that Epshteyn pitched them for consulting work ranging from $10,000 a month to $100,000 dating to 2022. 

Though an internal probe of Epshteyn by the campaign recommended Trump aides limit Epshteyn’s access to the president over the allegations, some Senate Democrats want to know if any other nominees set to appear before their committee were approached by the lawyer and advisor. 

“[Q]uestions remain regarding whether any nominees made promises or other assurances to Mr. Epshteyn as a condition of his support,” Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Dick Durbin wrote to incoming Chairman Chuck Grassley and his deputy, Senator Lindsey Graham. 

“Given the serious nature of these allegations, and to inform the Senate Judiciary Committee’s consideration of nominees under its jurisdiction, we request that all such nominees preserve and produce to the Committee any communications with Mr. Epshteyn,” the senators wrote in the letter, also obtained by CBS News. 

You can read the letter below: 

Neither Epshteyn nor the Trump transition team immediately responded to a request for comment sent to a transition official from Just the News about the letter.

Epshteyn has been with Trump for nearly a decade and helped lead his legal defense against four indictments, two impeachments, and multiple lawsuits. The Washington Examiner reported that Epshteyn denies any wrongdoing, calling the claims “fake and defamatory.” 

Trump previously told Just the News he was unaware that any staffer on his payroll was soliciting consulting fees from people seeking jobs or endorsements from him and would not condone such behavior.

“I suppose every President has people around them who try to make money off them on the outside. It’s a shame but it happens,” he said. “But no one working for me in any capacity should be looking to make money. They should only be here to Make America Great Again.”