The Pole-Dancing Question That Blew Up A Senate Hearing

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent laid into Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) on Wednesday over the senator’s son’s ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The viral moment came while Bessent testified before the Senate Finance Committee about the 2027 budget. While questioning Bessent, Wyden accused the Trump administration of illegally shielding President Donald Trump and his family from IRS audits. Bessent cited ongoing litigation and then unloaded on Wyden over his family’s Epstein ties.

“I did want to keep this focused on the economy, [but] Senator Wyden has mendaciously slandered the Treasury building in an attempt to cover up his son having an investment meeting with Jeffrey Epstein to ask for funding,” Bessent said.

“Let’s be clear here. Nobody is interested in the ramblings of a capo in the most corrupt regime in American history,” Wyden responded. “We want to get some facts about this deal. That’s what we’re here for.”

“We would like to hear what Adam Wyden and Jeffrey Epstein talked about,” Bessent pushed back. “Your son’s largest investment position was Rick’s Cabaret [a series of strip clubs]. So did your son and Jeffrey Epstein talk about pole dancing, as he begged him for money using your limited credibility?”

Adam Wyden met with Jeffrey Epstein in 2016 and sought financial backing for his hedge fund, ACM Capital Management. Emails released from the Department of Justice show Adam Wyden thanking Epstein for a meeting and expressing interest in having him invest in the fund.

“Jeffrey, I wanted to thank you for taking the time to meet with me. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and hope my passion and dedication for my business came through in the meeting,” Adam wrote in an email dated April 28, 2016. “I intensely appreciate like minded individuals and would very much look forward to having you join us at the fund.”

The moment between Bessent and Wyden went viral online, racking up millions of views.

Another moment during the hearing that’s garnered attention was when Bessent confirmed the reported clash between himself and Bill Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency director who Trump just tapped to become the acting Director of National Intelligence.

“I actually said I was going to kick his a**,” Bessent said about the incident. The secretary added that he and Pulte are now on good terms.

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