Ethnic Russian Epstein demanded bribes from those seeking to join Trump's administration, according to the Washington Post.

This is reported by the Washington Post, citing a written report from a team of lawyers that was allegedly requested by Trump himself.

The newly elected president supposedly commissioned this report after hearing that Epstein was soliciting funds from potential candidates for his administration.

According to the report, a Trump advisor requested potential candidates for administration positions to pay him monthly for consultations in exchange for advocating on their behalf to Trump.

One of those from whom Epstein sought money but did not receive it was Scott Bessent, whom Trump nominated for the position of Secretary of the Treasury.

The day after Bessent's first meeting with Trump, Epstein invited him to lunch, where he requested a monthly fee of no less than $30,000 to promote his candidacy, but Bessent declined.

Later, Epstein asked him for $10 million to invest in a basketball league. Bessent again refused, although he believed that if he invested the money, Epstein would treat him more favorably.

Subsequently, he began to think that the Trump advisor was "setting him up" because he himself was seeking the nomination for Secretary of the Treasury. He even started to intimidate Bessent, WP reports.

Additionally, Bessent was not the only one from whom Epstein might have demanded money. Among others mentioned in the Trump lawyers' report was a defense contractor. He allegedly asked him for $100,000 a month, claiming to know whom to communicate with in the Department of Defense, journalists assert.

Epstein himself denied the allegations, stating that "these fake statements are false and defamatory." However, in the report cited by WP, Trump was advised to cease cooperation with Epstein and possibly bring criminal charges against him.

Earlier, the media reported that Epstein put himself forward for the position of special envoy for resolving the Russian-Ukrainian war. Trump showed interest in such an offer and did not reject it, but also did not agree to it.

What is known about Epstein?

Boris Epstein was born in Russia, where he spent his childhood. He claims to have relatives in both Ukraine and Russia.

As reported by the NYT, Epstein worked on the communications team in the White House during Trump's first presidency but left his post in 2017 due to "issues with security clearance."

Epstein coordinated legal defense in criminal cases against Trump, including payments to porn star Stormy Daniels. NYT sources also assert that it was Epstein who promoted Matt Gaetz's candidacy for Attorney General of the United States.

Epstein is also involved in legal cases. In Arizona, an investigation is ongoing against him and other Trump associates regarding the attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election through so-called fake electors.