Billionaire Leon Black Files Lawsuit Against U.S. House Committee Over Epstein Inquiry

Leon Black, Chairman, CEO, and Director of Apollo Global Management, spoke at the Milken Institute's 21st Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, on May 1, 2018. In a legal move on Thursday, Wall Street billionaire Leon Black initiated a lawsuit against a congressional committee that had demanded he hand over non-disclosure agreements linked to the investigation of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Previously, in June, Black had declined to answer questions regarding Epstein's abuse victims and opted not to attend a deposition scheduled by the committee. He has accused lawmakers of overstepping their constitutional boundaries with the subpoenas. In a complaint lodged in a federal court in Washington, Black asserts that the House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer, has misused a voluntary interview to launch what he calls an unlawful 'fishing expedition.' Black, who co-founded the prominent private equity firm Apollo Global Management, contends that the subpoenas lack any valid legislative intent and risk compromising the privacy of unrelated women. His attorney, Susan Estrich, stated, 'This is no longer about uncovering the truth regarding Epstein; it’s about attempting to tarnish Mr. Black’s reputation. We felt compelled to file this lawsuit in response to what we perceive as an abuse of Congressional power.' Chairman Comer has indicated that the committee will proceed with the deposition to officially record Black's absence before determining the next steps. He has defended the inquiry's breadth, emphasizing the goal of revealing how federal entities mishandled the Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases over the years, as well as how Epstein utilized influential connections to avoid justice. Epstein was discovered dead in a New York City jail cell in 2019, with his death ruled as suicide, while Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for conspiring with Epstein to abuse minors. Comer remarked, 'It is regrettable that Leon Black is opting for litigation instead of providing transparency to the American public. His testimony is vital to our investigation, as he was a client of Epstein and is linked to several non-disclosure agreements.' Black is among various notable figures from politics and business summoned to testify about their connections to the late financier. After an external law firm's findings regarding his $158 million payments to Epstein for tax and estate planning, Black stepped down from his CEO position at Apollo in 2021. The questioned deposition followed a voluntary meeting Black had with the committee in June, during which he asserted he had never engaged in any abuse or trafficking of women. He exited the interview before it concluded, prompting the committee to require his return for sworn testimony and subsequently subpoena necessary documents. Epstein pleaded guilty to state prostitution charges in 2008 and spent 13 months in jail, later being arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving minors. Apollo has chosen not to comment on Black's recent appearance.