INV-051 · Money & ethics · Government deals
Kirkland & Ellis's $125M deal and Epshteyn's reported role
Stage 2 of 5: Inquiry · Letters and records requests · Last development 15 Oct 2026
In April 2025 the law firm Kirkland & Ellis reached an agreement with President Trump that lawmakers describe as $125 million in free legal services for causes he chooses. House Judiciary Democrats and Sens. Blumenthal and Schiff allege the deal was negotiated mainly with Boris Epshteyn, Trump's adviser and personal lawyer, and question the firm's unpaid legal work for federal agencies such as the Commerce Department, which they say may raise anti-bribery and Antideficiency Act issues. They have written six letters; the firm has produced no documents.
These are lawmakers' allegations; no official finding has been made and no written agreement has been made public. Epshteyn is described by the lawmakers as Trump's personal lawyer; his official status at the time is not stated. Kirkland says the agreement does not "run afoul" of the issues raised.
- People
- Boris Epshteyn, Kirkland & Ellis, Jon A. Ballis, Donald Trump
- Agencies
- White House, Commerce Dept
- Reviewed by
- House Judiciary (minority), Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Adam Schiff
Money involved
- $125 million Free legal services pledged for causes the President chooses (lawmakers' description; no written agreement public) (Other amounts, not totaled) [1]
Timeline
In a sixth letter, Raskin, Blumenthal and Schiff reject Kirkland's privilege claims, say it "has failed to produce a single responsive document," and demand records and a privilege log by 29 October. [3]
Kirkland declines to produce records, citing attorney-client, executive, settlement and deliberative-process privileges (as quoted in the lawmakers' later letter). [3]
Raskin, Schiff and Blumenthal ask for records of the agreement and of the firm's negotiations with Epshteyn, saying the arrangement may raise anti-bribery, Antideficiency Act and conflict-of-interest issues. [2]
Sen. Blumenthal and Rep. Raskin ask Kirkland who facilitated the agreement, what its terms are and what work the White House or agencies have requested. [1]
Kirkland & Ellis reaches an agreement with President Trump, described by lawmakers as $125 million in pro bono legal services for causes he chooses. [1]
Responses
- Kirkland & Ellis (Oct 2025): Said it is "comfortable that the agreement does not run afoul of the issues that you raise in your letter." [2]
- Kirkland & Ellis (W. Neil Eggleston, May 2026): Said disclosure would "reveal client confidences, privileged communications, and attorney work product" and that the President must have a chance to assert executive privilege. [3]
- Boris Epshteyn: Declined to comment to Bloomberg Law. [4]
Who is acting on it
- Letter Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD): Asked Kirkland who arranged the deal, its terms and what work the government has requested (18 Apr 2025, No reply or result recorded yet)
- Letter Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): Asked for records of the deal and of the firm's talks with Epshteyn (2 Mar 2026, What happened next)
- Letter Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA): Sixth letter rejecting Kirkland's privilege claims and demanding records by 29 Oct 2026 (15 Oct 2026, No reply or result recorded yet)
Sources
Cite this case
Public Trust Tracker. "Kirkland & Ellis's $125M deal and Epshteyn's reported role" (INV-051). Last updated 15 Oct 2026. https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-051-kirkland-and-elliss-125m-deal-and-epshteyns-reported-role/
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