politics

Sen. Ron Wyden wants to know why Leon Black paid Epstein $170 million for tax planning over 5-year period

Updated on: June 4, 2026 / 6:10 PM EDT / CBS News

Sen. Ron Wyden wants to know why Leon Black paid Epstein $170 million for tax planning over 5-year period

TL;DR

  • 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.