From Advisory Fees to Scrutiny: Epstein Accountant’s Capitol Hill Testimony Names Wealth Sources
By U.S. and Finance Reporter
Published in an international affairs outlet, March 2026
Jeffrey Epstein’s former accountant Richard Kahn provided the House Oversight Committee with a detailed, if guarded, view of the financier’s financial operations during a March 11, 2026, closed-door deposition. Kahn, a key figure in managing Epstein’s assets from the mid-2000s until his 2019 death and now co-executor of the estate, denied awareness of Epstein’s sex-trafficking crimes until posthumously, insisting their interactions remained professional and business-oriented.
In his opening statement, Kahn called Epstein’s offenses “unforgivable” and regretted any unwitting role in his affairs. He portrayed Epstein’s income as derived from legitimate tax advisory and financial planning services to wealthy clients, with no observed irregularities tied to abuse. Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) later disclosed that Kahn confirmed five major contributors to Epstein’s wealth through significant payments: Les Wexner, Glenn Dubin, Steven Sinofsky, the Rothschilds, and Leon Black. These transactions, per Comer, supported Epstein’s self-presentation as an elite advisor.
Wexner, who entrusted Epstein with vast assets in the 1990s, has previously testified, denying knowledge of misconduct. Black, who paid Epstein for estate and tax work, faces an upcoming deposition. Dubin and Sinofsky have not publicly confirmed client status in recent contexts, while Rothschild references remain vague without specifics on entities or sums. No testimony implicated these individuals in Epstein’s crimes; payments were framed as for advisory services.
The session highlighted Epstein’s financial opacity: complex trusts, offshore arrangements, and large fees from a select clientele sustained his lifestyle and influence. Prior lawsuits and reports detail Wexner’s transfers and Black’s multimillion-dollar engagements, often for philanthropy or planning. Kahn managed day-to-day elements, including island upkeep, but claimed no insight into illicit activities.
Democrats expressed skepticism. Ranking Member Robert Garcia noted admissions—such as impersonating Epstein in bank dealings and facilitating arrangements like a fake marriage among associates—raising doubts about full candor. Garcia also cited Epstein’s frequent Trump mentions, though no financial ties emerged.
The probe, subpoena-driven, aims to map Epstein’s fortune amid ongoing estate settlements funding victim compensation. No new criminal revelations surfaced publicly from Kahn’s testimony; focus stayed on wealth origins rather than abuse mechanics.
Epstein’s empire—built post-Bear Stearns through niche advisory—relied on discretion and elite trust. The deposition adds to a mosaic of documents and testimonies exposing how such networks operated with minimal oversight. As further witnesses appear, questions linger: Were these payments purely professional, or did they enable broader impunity? Kahn’s account offers clarity on sources but leaves systemic protections unaddressed.
In a landscape of eroded public trust toward powerful figures, this testimony—while measured—fuels calls for deeper financial transparency and accountability.
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