Boris Epshteyn, a former advisor to President Donald Trump, was accused of groping two women at a nightclub in Scottsdale, Arizona in October 2021. He ultimately pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. The Arizona Republic reported the accusations and subsequent arrest on a Thursday.
Video footage from police body cameras, obtained by the publication, captures a 27-year-old woman discussing a man later identified as Epshteyn with an officer.
Throughout the night, she claimed, Epshteyn had been touching both her and her sister, causing significant discomfort. She detailed instances where he had cornered her sister, engaging in unwelcome touching.
“All night he’s been touching me and my sister, especially my sister. He kind of cornered her and grabbed her and is just making her super uncomfortable,” the woman said, adding that Epshteyn’s conduct toward her sister included “touching her chest, touching her hips, touching her crotch.”
In her description, she likened Epshteyn’s appearance to “that Tony Soprano looking dude,” referencing the character played by James Gandolfini in the popular TV series “The Sopranos.” She described him as overweight with a drooping face, dressed in a white Ralph Lauren Polo shirt.
Epshteyn faced initial charges including “indecent assault,” “attempted sexual abuse,” “harassment-repeated acts,” and “disorderly conduct-disruptive behavior or fighting,” according to the Arizona Republic. However, the first three charges were later dropped in a plea deal.
Epshteyn held a position in the White House during Trump’s presidency. He later served as a strategic advisor for Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign.
Following Trump’s electoral defeat, Epshteyn played a role in an endeavor to submit fake pro-Trump electors to the Electoral College. The New York Times has identified him as the likely sixth unnamed co-conspirator in a recent federal indictment against Trump.
Epshteyn declined a request to comment on the report.
