U.S. lawmakers are ramping up pressure on federal agencies to release sealed documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, continuing what started as a public commitment from the Trump administration. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon and chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, said investigators working with his office believe the government holds key records, including financial data, showing nearly $1 billion moved through one of Epstein’s banks.
Authorities accused Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender, of running a global sex trafficking ring involving underage girls and alleged powerful associates. Although he died in federal custody in 2019, many questions remain about who funded his operations and who benefited from them.
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Wyden says records show billions moved through Epstein-linked banks
In a post on Thursday, July 17, Sen. Wyden said on X that officials from the Trump administration have a file “detailing 4,725 wire transfers.” In addition to the nearly $1 billion moved through one bank, he said Epstein transferred hundreds of millions through other financial institutions.
The New York Times spoke with Wyden, who confirmed he has reviewed files connected to the money that helped finance Epstein’s sex trafficking network.
“We felt from the beginning this was a follow-the-money case,” Wyden told The Times. “This horrific sex trafficking operation cost Epstein a lot of money, and he had to get that money from somewhere.”
The senator says the transactions include payments linked to art sales, fees from wealthy associates and money sent to numerous women. Some of the largest transfers, worth up to $100 million, reportedly moved through accounts at two Russian banks. Typically, banks are usually required to flag large or “unusual” money transfers, especially when they involve foreign accounts, shell companies or high-value transactions.
Wyden accuses agencies of withholding key evidence
Wyden has been a vocal and persistent investigator into Epstein’s financial dealings, even before the Department of Justice announced they were no longer investigating the case. As chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Wyden has unique access to Treasury records and oversight authority over federal financial enforcement, making his investigation one of the most consequential still active on Capitol Hill.
In a recent letter sent in June to U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, Treasury Secretary Bessent and FBI Director Kash Patel, Wyden criticized their lack of cooperation in providing key documents tied to Epstein’s sex trafficking network.
Wyden’s original request, sent in March 2025, sought records revealing how hundreds of millions of dollars flowed from wealthy individuals, including billionaire Leon Black, to Epstein, funding his illegal operations. He highlighted a settlement in which Black acknowledged using these funds to support Epstein’s activities in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Unanswered promises of transparency
Despite assurances from the Treasury Department that it possesses these records, Wyden said the agencies have refused to share the documents with his office for further review. He emphasized that these records could expose how Epstein’s criminal network secured funding, including potential money laundering and how major financial institutions may have ignored suspicious transactions.
Wyden also expressed concern that the Trump administration might be withholding information to protect its ties to Epstein. He pointed out that Trump officials previously committed to thoroughly investigate and release files related to Epstein but he argues that they have not honored those promises.
