Trump appointee leading $205bn US agency had personal ties to Epstein, emails show

[Uncle Joe]

Ben Black’s lawyers deny relationship with disgraced financier, but DoJ records reveal years of interactions

(snip)

Donald Trump has appointed at least three other men to federal office with known ties to Epstein. Howard Lutnick, the secretary of commerce, testified recently to a House oversight investigation after admitting that he traveled to Epstein’s private island. He has never been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein or otherwise. Lutnick sits on DFC’s board of directors, where he and Ben Black join six other presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed members in reviewing and approving the agency’s overseas investments.

(snip)

It’s not clear exactly what led Trump to appoint Ben Black to the DFC post, particularly given public records suggest thin experience in international development finance. (A White House spokesperson told the Guardian Black had “elite” experience for the role.)

In January 2025, Ben Black and the Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale co-authored an essay calling for a “pro-market” approach to foreign aid. They specifically cited the missteps of the Biden administration and the promise of investing in Greenland, a Danish outpost that Trump has said he would like to control.

(snip)

There are some discrepancies in the public timeline documenting Ben Black’s involvement with ESWW. A Senate ethics disclosure dates his board term to June 2021 – 10 years after Black’s role was first listed in SEC filings. A company webpage that listed Ben Black on its board of directors between 2015 and 2023 has been taken down.

(snip)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/03/ben-black-investment-trump-epstein

[get the red out]

1. It is required

If Epstein isn't listed on a Trump stooges resume as "hobbies" or "other work" it gets tossed.

[justaprogressive]

2. A company of perverts, each with "the goods" on the others!