Billionaire investor Leon Black has not appeared before a U.S. congressional committee investigating the late Jeffrey Epstein and has instead filed a lawsuit challenging the committee's summons. The lawsuit claims that the subpoenas issued by the House Oversight Committee are "invalid" and lack a legitimate connection to the committee's legislative purpose.
In June, Black left the committee during voluntary testimony after being questioned about nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) he may have signed. He has denied any wrongdoing regarding his dealings with Epstein.
The subpoenas required Black to provide NDAs and to give an on-camera deposition under oath, following his departure from the committee meeting. His lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington on Thursday, argues that disclosing the NDAs could "expose women who value their privacy, who have no known or public connection to Epstein, who bargained for confidentiality and have refused to release it."
NDAs are contracts that require both parties to keep certain information confidential, often related to settlements or employment agreements. Susan Estrich, an attorney for Black, stated in a press release, "This is no longer about finding the truth about Epstein. It is about trying to destroy Mr. Black. We were left with no choice but to file this lawsuit in response to an abuse of Congressional power."
Robert Garcia, a member of the committee, commented after Black's failure to appear, stating, "By refusing to testify today, Leon Black is now defying two Congressional subpoenas. His connections to Epstein and his unwillingness to cooperate are unacceptable. We must hold him in contempt immediately." Contempt of Congress could lead to a referral to the Justice Department for potential prosecution.
Chairman James Comer expressed disappointment, saying, "It's a shame Leon Black is hiding behind litigation rather than provide answers to the American people. Mr. Black's testimony is crucial to our investigation."
Black has stated that he employed Epstein as a wealth management adviser and reported paying Epstein $158 million for legitimate purposes over their years-long association. He claims he was unaware of Epstein's criminal activities until Epstein was charged with trafficking in July 2019.
Black is mentioned in the Epstein files released by the Justice Department, which include various documents related to Epstein. There is no implication of wrongdoing associated with his appearance in these documents.
Court records show that Black had a six-year relationship with former Russian model Guzel Ganieva, which ended amid allegations of abuse. Ganieva filed a lawsuit against Black, which was later dismissed; it included claims that Black prepared an NDA in 2015 to secure her silence. Estrich has called Ganieva's accusations "demonstrably false," while Black has claimed he was a victim of extortion. A judge dismissed Ganieva's lawsuit, citing the NDA she signed and approximately $9 million she received after entering the agreement.
Black left Apollo Global Management, a company he co-founded, in 2021, stating that the "relentless public attention and media scrutiny" of his ties to Epstein had adversely affected his health.