The president-elect's legal adviser of the United States Donald Trump Boris Epstein, who is suspected of extorting money from potential candidates for positions in the new administration, has been suspended from participating in some meetings of the transition team of the Republican Party, the Wall Street Journal reported in Tuesday, citing his sources.
They say Epstein has been prevented from participating in “certain meetings” where transition issues are discussed, as a result of the proceedings brought against him by the Trump team. As the newspaper noted, this problem could force the president-elect to choose between loyalists who have long been part of his circle and those “who joined his team later and seek to bring discipline and order to his second administration“.
Epstein himself denies the allegations. “These claims are lies and slander and will not distract us from our work to make America great again,”, The Wall Street Journal quoted him as saying. Trump's transition team communications director, Steven Chun, told the newspaper that “there is a broad review of agreements related to campaign consulting, including with regard to Epstein”. Chun did not provide information on the nature of that analysis, but noted that Trump's team members are “moving forward together”.
The Washington Post previously reported that Epstein asked potential candidates for the new administration to pay him monthly consulting fees in exchange for protecting their interests against Trump. The scope of Epstein's activities was drawn up by the lawyers of the US president-elect. Trump himself asked to do this. Among those from whom Epstein has unsuccessfully sought payment is former Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent, according to a report from his legal team.