Sen. Ron Wyden wants to know why Leon Black paid Epstein $170 million for tax planning over 5-year period Senator Ron Wyden has requested that billionaire Leon Black be questioned about the $170 million he paid to Jeffrey Epstein for tax and estate planning advice between 2012 and 2017. Wyden argues that these payments vastly exceed those made to other professional advisors and has raised concerns based on unsealed DOJ records suggesting Epstein may have acted as a middleman for hush money payments to women and that Epstein tracked women with whom Black had reached settlements.

• Sen. Ron Wyden is demanding that Leon Black be questioned about his $170 million payments to Jeffrey Epstein for tax advice.
• Wyden’s four-year investigation suggests Black paid Epstein significantly more than other advisors for tax and estate planning between 2012 and 2017.
• Wyden claims unsealed DOJ records indicate Epstein may have facilitated hush money payments for Black and monitored women with whom Black had settlements.
• Black’s attorney has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities and accused Wyden of overstepping his jurisdiction.
• Wyden also flagged a $62 million legal settlement between Black and the U.S. Virgin Islands related to Epstein.