Trump Aide Said He’d Boost Admin. Candidate in Exchange for 3-on-3 Basketball Funding: Report

A close adviser of President-elect Donald Trump has been accused of soliciting payments from administration candidates in exchange for his support and advocacy. 

Boris Epshteyn, a longtime attorney to Trump and a key figure in his transition team, was investigated by the campaign’s legal counsel over accusations he sought financial compensation from potential Trump nominees, multiple outlets reported on Monday. The investigation found that Epshteyn proposed a $30,000 to $40,000 per month retainer to promote the (ultimately successful) candidacy of Scott Bessent for treasury secretary. Another individual, a defense contractor who asked not to be named in the report for fear of retaliation, claimed Epshteyn sought a $100,000 monthly retainer to help promote his bid for a position in Trump’s second administration. 

Besset reportedly rejected the proposal, as well as overtures by Epshteyn to get him to invest $10 million in a 3-on-3 basketball league. Besset reportedly informed members of Trump’s inner circle — including Donald Trump Jr. and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance — of the scheme. 

The Washington Post reported that Bessent started to believe Epshteyn was trying to hamstring his chances because he had rejected his proposals, and that in a call between the two the Trump adviser proclaimed “I’m Boris Fucking Epshteyn” and told Bessent he should have agreed to the deal. The legal review found that Epshteyn later tried to intimidate Bessent in person at Mar-a-Lago.

In a statement to right-wing journalist John Solomon, who originally obtained the documents related to the investigation into Epshteyn, Trump said: “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. But no one working for me in any capacity should be looking to make money.”

“No one can promise any endorsement or nomination except me. I make these decisions on my own, period,” Trump said. 

Trump transition spokesman and incoming White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told The New York Times that conducting such a review on a member of Trump’s team was “standard practice.” 

“A broad review of the campaign’s consulting agreements has been conducted and completed, including as to Boris, among others. We are now moving ahead together as a team to help President Trump Make America Great Again,” Cheung said.

According to the Times’ review of documents related to the probe, Trump’s legal advisers suggested Epshteyn’s affiliation with the president-elect be “terminated.” 

In a Monday statement, Epshteyn called the accusations against him “false and defamatory.” 

“I am honored to work for President Trump and with his team,” he said, adding that the reports would “not distract us from Making America Great Again.”