CNN: Billionaire Leon Black made $158 million payment to Jeffrey Epstein.Senators want to know why

[viva la]

The Senate Finance Committee is looking into whether billionaire investor Leon Black’s $158 million payment to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein was part of a greater strategy to avoid paying over $1 billion in federal gift and estate taxes.

Hmmm... not sure it was just taxes he was hoping to avoid....

[link:https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/25/business/leon-black-jeffrey-epstein-senate-investigation/index.html|

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. How does paying Epstein $155MM help him avoid his tax liabilities?

Was Jeff some kind of tax avoidence genius? Or was he being blackmailed?

[viva la]

2. Well, I think it was likely blackmail... Black isn't the only billionaire to give Epstein $$$$$$

But as I understand it, Black might have deducted the payments to Epstein as business/tax advice. You know how you're allowed to deduct that $650 you pay to the accountant to do your taxes each April? Same thing, I guess, only times 200,000.

This is something Trump faces on a smaller scale maybe, as it looks like he might have deducted the Stormy payment as legal fees.

Les Wexner was another billionaire 'client' of Epstein. Remember he's the one who gave Epstein the $70mil mansion in Manhattan. I'm sure that was just a gesture of gratitude for E's financial advice.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/06/inside-jeffrey-epsteins-decades-long-relationship-with-his-biggest-client

[hedda_foil]

3. That would be blackmail, for $155MM. Thanks for playing Epstein Jeopardy!

[blm]

5. Yup

[barbaraann]

4. I know the answer.

Evil.

[GreenWave]

6. Some call it go away payment.

[Chainfire]

7. He was so happy when Epstein sent him a copy of the "movie" he just had to donate!

[getagrip_already]

8. Well, it's like this.....

I pay you a fee to make a problem go away.

You make a few calls, calling in marks you just might have on tape somewhere, and all of a sudden, my tax liability goes away.

Win, win. At least for me and you. And I get one hell of a weekend out of it setting it all up.

[republianmushroom]

9. Pay your taxes, man.

[rubbersole]

10. That's one helluva expensive dating service.

Silence is golden.

[viva la]

11. Might the $158 mil payment have had something to do with this?

NBC-
Lawsuit alleges billionaire Leon Black raped autistic teen at Epstein's townhouse

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/lawsuit-accuses-billionaire-leon-black-raping-autistic-teenager-jeffre-rcna96373

[FakeNoose]

13. So now he's caught anyway - that $158 million didn't do shit

Leon Black must be a complete asshole, and he paid all that money for nothing.
Whatever evidence Epstein had on him didn't "magically" go away, did it?

It's time for Leon Black to pay the piper. And this time no amount of money will do it.
Justice will be done.

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. " paid Epstein in several installments between 2012 and 2017"

ie after Epstein's conviction. Everyone knew he was a pedophile then; there was no reason to still be doing business with him. Apart from blackmail.