ToplineFederal Reserve chairman nominee Kevin Warsh rejected any connections to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Wednesday, distancing himself from the late sex offender after he and his family were named in Epstein files released earlier this year.Warsh's nomination was approved by the Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday.Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty ImagesKey FactsResponding to a series of written questions from Sen. Elizabeth Warren. D-Mass., Warsh said he and his immediate family did not have personal or financial connections to Epstein or his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.Warren questioned Warsh over his and his wife’s names being identified on a guest list for events in New York and the Caribbean island of St. Barthélemy in 2010 that appeared to be organized by Epstein.Warsh acknowledged he traveled to St. Barthélemy in Dec. 2010 with his wife for a vacation but said he did not attend events organized by Epstein or Maxwell, “nor am I aware of having ever attended an event at which these people were present.”Warsh also asked about his father-in-law’s connections to Epstein, as the two men appeared to exchange emails in the Epstein files, though Warsh referred to an answer he provided earlier in the letter: “I can speak only for myself and my immediate family and the answer to each of these inquiries is no.”Warsh’s nomination for Federal Reserve chairman was approved by the Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday.What To Watch ForWarsh’s nomination is all but certain following the committee’s approval. The Republican-majority Senate will vote on his nomination soon and are also expected to approve it. TangentThe Federal Reserve decided to hold interest rates Wednesday in Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s final meeting, voting 8-4 to keep rates between 3.5% and 3.75%. Key BackgroundWarsh has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. Warsh was nominated to lead the Federal Reserve last month and is aligned with President Donald Trump, arguing the president is justified in his frustration with Powell’s refusal to lower interest rates more quickly. A CNBC Fed Survey found 58% of respondents believed Warsh will favor slashing interest rates, up 14 points from last month, while 65% said he will be hawkish on rates. Warsh may become the richest person to ever hold the position of Fed chair. He disclosed over $100 million in assets earlier this month that were separate from those held by his billionaire wife, Jane Lauder, who has an estimated net worth of $2 billion and is the granddaughter of Estée Lauder.Further ReadingHow Rich Is Federal Reserve Chair Nominee Kevin Warsh? (Forbes)Kevin Warsh Could Become Richest Fed Chair Ever—Discloses Assets Worth Over $100 Million (Forbes)Trump Officially Nominates Kevin Warsh As Fed Chair (Forbes)