Democrats want correspondence between Trump picks, Boris Epshteyn
Two Democratic senators are pressing for correspondent between President-elect Trump’s Cabinet picks and Boris Epshteyn following allegations that the longtime Trump adviser was seeking payment to promote individuals interested in roles in the next Trump administration.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) called for any communications between nominees and Epshteyn to be preserved and given to lawmakers, according to a letter obtained by The Hill.
"All nominees appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee should immediately act to retain all communications with Mr. Epshteyn, provide those materials to the Committee well in advance of their hearing date, and be prepared to testify regarding any discussions with Mr. Epshteyn about receiving a potential appointment in the incoming administration," read the letter addressed to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the current ranking member of the Judiciary panel, and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the incoming chair.
The letter was also copied to Trump's transition team leader Susie Wiles, Trump's pick for White House chief of staff, CBS News reported.
The letter calls for senior Republicans to require any Trump appointees presented to the Judiciary Committee for confirmation to "preserve and produce to the Committee any communications with Mr. Epshteyn."
Last month, Trump’s transition team conducted an internal review of consulting agreements involving allegations that Epshteyn was seeking payment to promote those interested in potential administration jobs.
Multiple outlets, including The Associated Press and The New York Times, reported the review concluded Epshteyn asked for payment to advocate for two individuals, including Scott Bessent, whom Trump nominated last week to serve as Treasury secretary.
The New York Times reported that the internal review found Epshteyn in February proposed to Bessent a monthly fee of between $30,000 and $40,000 to promote the investor around Mar-a-Lago, which Bessent declined.
Epshteyn called the claims “false and defamatory” in a previous statement.
Updated at 1:45 p.m. EST