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The Epstein Chronicles
Wyden Presses Oversight Committee to Dig Deeper Into Black’s Epstein Ties (7/3/26)
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Senator Ron Wyden is pressing for deeper answers about Leon Black’s financial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein as congressional scrutiny of Black intensifies. According to the reporting, Wyden’s Senate Finance Committee investigation has focused on...
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What's up, everyone? And welcome to another episode of the Epstein Chronicles. When it comes to Jeffrey Epstein's former associates, nobody's having a worse week than Leon Black. Not only did this clown storm out of the Congressional hearing, Senator Wyden is now pressing for more answers as the scrutiny continues to heat up. And I'll tell you what. For the first time, one of Jeffrey Epstein's closest associates is in real jeopardy. Now, when I say that, I don't mean going to prison, right? I won't believe anyone's going to prison until they start putting people there. But what I'm talking about is reputationally and financially. I mean, how many lawsuits is he going to get hit with? If and when it's proven that he was a lot closer and a key element of Jeffrey's operation, what then? How many people are going to sue him? I'm guessing a lot, and they should. As far as legal jeopardy, if I was Leon Black, what I'd be scared of is taxes. What are they going to come for financially? Because that's how you get people like Leon Black. Unfortunately, you're never going to get them. Unfortunately, on the allegations that have been made by Guzell GA or by the unfortunate young lady who has Mosaic down syndrome, people like Leon Black, they find a way to get away from that. But when it comes to money, when it comes to tax evasion, when it comes to hiding, that, that's how you get people like this. And I know a lot of you are saying, well, there's no justice there. You're getting them for a different crime. And my counter to that is you. Yes, that's true. The most grievous sins are not being punished, but at least there's some punishment. And that's why I always bring up the example of Al Capone. Of course, the government wanted to get him for murder, right? Elliot Ness, the Untouchables, the whole thing. But they couldn't make that stick. So what did they do? They changed up the strategy, and they ended up getting them on tax evasion. And that's how you go after powerful people. You follow the money. And if you follow the money on the street, eventually that shit's gonna land with the person who's the plug. And the same's true here. If you follow all the money from all of Epstein's associates, it all ends up going to the same place, right to Jeffrey Epstein. So the question is why? And unfortunately, none of these people seem to have an answer. Today's article is from the Grant Pass Tribune. And the headline Widen presses for Answers As Congressional scrutiny of Leon Black Deepens. This article was authored by Ellen Ward. A congressional investigation examining the financial relationship between billionaire investor Leon Black and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein entered a new phase this week as lawmakers move to compel additional testimony and and records following Black's appearance before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. And I think the problems for Leon Black are just beginning. I think that if anybody's exposed here, I think it's him. Now let's not get too carried away and act like he's going to end up in prison. I'm not gonna go that far. But I think that he is really being looked at right now. And if anybody is going to be in jeopardy, I think it's going to be Leon Black. And I think that all the facts align and the evidence points to him knowing a lot more than he ever let on. And when it comes to the money, well, I've told you from the beginning, I think that there was a ton of tax evasion and money laundering. Whether Leon Black was directly involved in that or not, I don't know. But I can tell you with conviction that that's what Jeffrey Epstein was up to. And if you are using his services, it only makes sense that that's what you were looking for. The latest hearing has renewed attention on a years long investigation led by Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, whose work on the Senate Finance Committee has steadily expanded beyond questions of tax strategy to include the flow of millions of dollars. But between Black, Epstein and other individuals connected to the financiers network. And it would be nice if Congress and the Senate would get on board and get all these bank records subpoenaed and into the public record. Because if you follow this money, I guarantee you you're going to get to some of the answers that we're looking for. And that's why they haven't done. Black appeared voluntarily before the House committee in a closed door interview intended to clarify the nature of his business dealings with Epstein. During the session, Black maintained that Epstein's role centered on advising him on complex financial matters involving taxes, trusts and estate planning, rather than serving as a licensed tax attorney or accountant. So you have all the money in the world, you're in charge of Apollo Global worth billions of, and you reach out to Jeffrey Epstein, who's not an attorney, not a tax guy, not an accountant. I mean, it's not like you or I reaching out to our buddy who knows how to do taxes. Right? Different story, whole different story here. So if you want to believe that Jeffrey Epstein was receiving this money for tax advice, cool. Like I always tell you, I'm not here to convince anybody of anything. Here's the evidence. Do with it as you will. Members of the bipartisan committee, however, concluded that significant questions remain unanswered after Black declined to discuss several matters involving confidentiality agreements and financial arrangements linked to Epstein. He doesn't want anybody to know the truth. And they came involuntarily because they wanted to dog walk the whole entire operation. They wanted to control the narrative. Oh, we're here voluntarily of our own free will. Well, yeah, but if you didn't come voluntarily, you'd be here under subpoena. So tell the truth or come back under a subpoena and face all the jeopardy that comes with that. And now that's the position that Leon Black's in. And guess what? Well deserved. The committee responded by issuing subpoenas requiring Black to produce additional documents and and return for sworn testimony later this summer, signaling that lawmakers believe the investigation has reached a point where further compulsory testimony is necessary. It reached that point about 30 years ago. I'm glad that Congress is catching up now, but let's be real. This is an issue that was allowed to metastasize. This cancer could have been cut out a long time ago, but it wasn't, and now it's spread. For Oregon. The hearing represents another chapter in an investigation that Senator Wyden has pursued for more than four years. As ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, Wyden has examined banking records, financial transactions, and tax documents in an effort to understand why Black transferred an estimated 170 million to Epstein between 2012 and and 2017. According to Wyden's investigation, those payments dramatically exceeded the compensation Black paid to internationally recognized tax and estate planning professionals already working on his financial affairs. They weren't willing to go into the areas that Epstein was. Come on, this is not rocket science. He had the professionals, the, you know, people with a good reputation on the outside taking care of the, quote, unquote taxes. But on the inside, well, where all the money laundering was happening, where all the fraud was happening, where the hiding of funds was happening, that was exclusively controlled by Jeffrey Epstein, and that's what he was getting paid for. Wyden has repeatedly argued that the size and structure of those payments deserve greater scrutiny. In early June, the Oregon senator formally transmitted the findings of his Senate investigation to the House Oversight Committee before Black's appearance, encouraging investigators to pursue additional lines of questioning regarding financial records, settlement Payments and the movement of funds connected to Epstein's network, all very relative and all very important. And I really think that if anyone's exposed here, it's Leon Black. Among the issues identified by Wyden are allegations that Epstein may have acted as an intermediary in payments made to several women and maintained records involving settlement agreements. Wyden has also questioned the circumstances surrounding Black's multi million dollar settlement with the government of the US Virgin Islands, which resolved civil claims without an admission of wrongdoing. Those issues now appear to be central to the House Committee's expanding investigation. And I told you at the time it was a hustle and that the USVI should be ashamed of itself. It was always about the money for the usvi, never about the survivors, never about real justice. They were eating at both ends of the table when Epstein was alive. They were enjoying his largess. When Epstein died, they went after his estate. And not only that, but they ended up getting more money than all of the survivors combined. How is that acceptable? And how is it that I'm, like, the only person who called it out? Black has consistently denied participating or having knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's criminal activities. He's maintained that substantial payments reflected sophisticated financial and estate planning services that ultimately produced significant tax savings and stated that he was deceived about the full extent of Epstein's criminal conduct. Everybody was deceived. Nobody had a Internet browser that worked. I guess nobody did any due diligence. Does anyone believe that? His legal representatives have criticized recent congressional subpoenas, arguing that the requests are unnecessary because Black has already cooperated in extensively with investigators. So what's the big deal then? If he's already cooperated intensively, then what's the big deal? Congressional investigators appear unconvinced that the matter has been fully explained. Members of both political parties have indicated they want a clearer understanding of the financial relationship between the two men, particularly the purpose of unusually large payments, the existence of confidentiality agreements, and whether Epstein played any role beyond providing financial advice. No, I'm sure that's it. It started and stopped there, right? The renewed congressional interest comes as federal investigators continue reviewing millions of pages of records associated with Epstein and his extensive network of business associates, financial clients, and and personal contacts. House investigators have indicated that Black's testimony represents only one portion of a broader effort to understand how Epstein maintained influence among wealthy and powerful individuals over many years. Well, comprom, getting people into compromising situations and just learning about people. That was Epstein's gift. Make no mistake. He had a menagerie of people that he collected. Very powerful people. For Wyden, the developments represent a continuation of an investigation that is increasingly focused on financial transparency rather than criminal allegations alone. Bingo. If you want to win and you want to hold people accountable, that's how you do it. I know. Not salacious, not the kind of that draws engagement, and certainly not the kind of thing that makes you rich. But if you want justice, that's how you get there. The Oregon senator has argued that Congress has a responsibility to determine whether existing tax law, banking regulations, and financial reporting requirements were sufficient to detect or prevent transactions that may warrant additional oversight. Black is scheduled to return before the House Oversight Committee under subpoena next month, where lawmakers are expected to continue pressing for answers regarding the financial relationship that has remained under congressional examination for years. Whether that testimony resolves lingering questions or broadens the investigation further remains one of the most closely watched political and financial inquiries currently unfolding in Washington. That's true. When you have somebody as powerful as Leon Black on the dock, everybody's paying attention. And hopefully with this renewed attention, we get some of the answers that we've been looking for. And if we want to get to the bottom of what Leon Black was up to with Jeffrey Epstein, then I think Senator Wyden is on the right track. Because if you want to get Leon Black, the way to do it is through his bank account. All the information that goes with this episode can be found in the description box.