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Epstein's longtime accountant testifies on his wealth and business ties

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Epstein's longtime accountant testifies on his wealth and business ties
News

News

Epstein's longtime accountant testifies on his wealth and business ties

2026-03-12 04:12 Last Updated At:04:21

WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers were digging into Jeffrey Epstein's sprawling financial portfolio on Wednesday as a committee deposed his former accountant and tried to understand his connections to some of the world's wealthiest men.

Richard Kahn, who worked closely with Epstein for years and now serves as an executor of his estate, appeared for the closed-door deposition on Capitol Hill. He told lawmakers that he had not personally seen evidence of Epstein's sexual abuse, but provided a fuller picture of how Epstein acquired his wealth. The wealthy financier made hundreds of millions of dollars over two decades, during which he struck up friendships with some of the world's most powerful men.

Kahn “was under the impression that Epstein made his money as a tax advisor and a financial planner,” said Rep. James Comer, the Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee. Lawmakers argued that a fuller picture of Epstein's finances could help the public understand how, for years, he was able to get away with trafficking and sexually abusing underage girls.

“Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring would not have been possible without Richard Kahn, who managed Epstein's money for years, authorized payments, including payments to victims and survivors,” said Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., who added that Kahn told them he was unable to recall details of some of the transactions and communications that he was asked about.

Kahn has said that he was unaware of Epstein's sexual abuse and had not seen any of his victims.

Comer, R-Ky., also said that lawmakers confirmed during the deposition that Epstein received significant amounts of money from former retail shopping chain executive Les Wexner, hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin, tech entrepreneur Steven Sinofsky, investor Leon Black and the Rothschilds, a wealthy banking family.

None of those people have been accused of wrongdoing in their relationships with Epstein, but Democrats on the committee argued that anyone with ties to the wealthy financier should be scrutinized. Wexner was deposed by the committee last month, and Comer has also called on Black, among several others, to appear for transcribed interviews.

Kahn also told lawmakers that Epstein had financial ties to Ehud Barak, who was the prime minister of Israel from 1999 to 2001, according to Democratic Rep. Suhas Subramanyam. Barak has not been accused of wrongdoing and has said he regrets his friendship with Epstein.

Comer also said Wednesday that the committee has reviewed over 40,000 documents that it subpoenaed from JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank. Epstein was connected to at least 64 business entities, according to Comer.

Republican President Donald Trump has strongly denied any wrongdoing in his own ties to Epstein, and Comer said that Kahn had never seen any financial transactions between Epstein and Trump. Comer said that Kahn is the latest witness to testify that they had never seen Trump doing anything wrong with Epstein.

“The investigation's about getting the truth to the American people, trying to figure out how the government failed, answer questions we all have,” Comer said.

Richard Khan, right, Jeffrey Epstein's accountant and co-executor of his estate, arrives for his deposition before the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Richard Khan, right, Jeffrey Epstein's accountant and co-executor of his estate, arrives for his deposition before the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Richard Khan, center, Jeffrey Epstein's accountant and co-executor of his estate, arrives for his deposition before the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Richard Khan, center, Jeffrey Epstein's accountant and co-executor of his estate, arrives for his deposition before the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Richard Khan, Jeffrey Epstein's accountant and co-executor of his estate, arrives for his deposition before the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Richard Khan, Jeffrey Epstein's accountant and co-executor of his estate, arrives for his deposition before the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) — Ryan Blaney captured his first NASCAR Cup Series pole position since last August, bumping points leader Tyler Reddick from the top spot in qualifying Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Blaney turned a 127.064-mph lap to qualify first for the 13th time in 386 career starts. His previous pole was 19 starts ago at Watkins Glen International last season.

The Team Penske driver also started on pole at Bristol two years ago. He has led 585 laps at the track, the most of any Cup driver without a win on the 0.533-mile oval.

“Cool start to the weekend,” the 2023 Cup champion said. “Now we’ve got to do it for 500 laps. Should be fun. I think we’re going to have a handful, and everyone’s going to be like that keeping up with the racetrack.”

Reddick, who won four of the first six races this season, qualified a career-best second at Bristol, where he had started no better than 12th in nine previous starts.

“We got into Turn 3 on the money lap pretty good, and I just oversent it a little bit with a big correction,” said the 23XI Racing driver, who has 12 career wins but is seeking his first victory at a short track in NASCAR’s premier series. “I was concerned that I left some on the table there, and that’s definitely where we gave it up to (Blaney).”

Chase Briscoe qualified third, followed by Riley Herbst and Ty Gibbs as Toyotas took the four starting spots behind Blaney’s No. 12 Ford.

Ross Chastain qualified sixth but lost his choice of pit selection and had a crew member ejected because his No. 1 Chevrolet failed inspection twice. The same penalty befell Kyle Larson, who qualified eighth after his No. 5 Chevy failed inspection twice.

Alex Bowman qualified 27th in his return from missing four races with vertigo.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

FILE - Carson Hocevar (77) leads Ryan Blaney (12), and Christopher Bell (20) Riley Herbst (35) during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race April 13, 2025, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)

FILE - Carson Hocevar (77) leads Ryan Blaney (12), and Christopher Bell (20) Riley Herbst (35) during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race April 13, 2025, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)

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