Senator seeks investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s work for Leon Black
Billionaire investor and art collector Leon Black is once again the subject of censorship due to his relationship with late financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was found guilty of sexual trafficking.
In late July, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon-based Democratic Sen., who served on the Senate Finance Committee, called on the IRS to investigate what Wyden called a “suspicious transaction” involving the tax planning work alleged by Jeffrey Epstein.”
In a letter filed with the IRS on July 31, Wyden accused the group of “failed a major tax deal involving Epstein over the years” and condemned what he called the “deal, “deal, deal, involving a ten million dollar criminal who was intended to help a tax-tax offender involving a huge health tax. “Wyden called on the IRS to provide more information by September 1.
The letter was sent to Billy Long, who was appointed by Trump as the IRS commissioner. On August 8, Trump replaced Long with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Black was previously the subject of Epstein-related research. In a letter to Apollo Global Management, he and Epstein engaged in “real estate planning, taxation and philanthropy,” Black wrote in 2020 in a letter to his co-founded investment company Apollo Global Management. The second year investigation found that Black was not involved in Epstein’s criminal activities, although it did point out that Black had paid $158 million between 2012 and 2017.
Black mentoring spokesperson Artnews In the investigation, and in a statement, the investigation “concludes that Mr. Black has not engaged in any wrongdoing, is unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities, and that all fees paid are reviewed and approved by external law firms for legal taxation, real estate and charity programs.”
Black is widely regarded as one of the world’s top art collectors, and appears in ArtnewsSince 1997, there has been a list of top 200 collectors every year. He previously served as chairman of the board of the Museum of Modern Art, and he left the position as Epstein’s lawsuit continued. He remains in the museum’s trustee.
