Billionaire investor Leon Black was issued subpoenas by the House Oversight Committee on Thursday while testifying about his past financial dealings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The committee is seeking information regarding potential non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and Epstein's alleged involvement in them.
Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., stated that the information is vital to the investigation into Epstein's activities and his connections with prominent figures. "We want to know, was Jeffrey Epstein involved in the NDAs? Was he involved in awarding [of] funds to the women for the NDAs? What was the reason for the NDAs?" Comer was quoted as saying.
Black, the co-founder of Apollo Global Management, testified behind closed doors and reportedly refused to answer lawmakers' questions about potential NDAs with women connected to Epstein. He is scheduled to return for videotaped testimony under oath on July 16, with a separate subpoena demanding the possible NDA documents.
Black's attorney, Susan Estrich, characterized the subpoenas as a "planned political stunt" and denied any involvement by Epstein in any such agreements. Estrich also stated that the committee did not ask about legitimate payments made to Epstein for tax and estate planning services.
In his prepared remarks, Black stated he played no part in Epstein's sex-trafficking scheme. He asserted that he "never abused a woman," "never been with an underage woman," and "never engaged in sex trafficking." Black also denied paying Epstein for access to women or being blackmailed.
Black confirmed he paid Epstein $158 million over five years for estate and tax-planning services, a sum he believed to be less due to Epstein's alleged misrepresentation of fees as tax-deductible. Black stated he hired Epstein for tax advice and that the financier "solved a massive estate problem" that lawyers could not. He dismissed Epstein in 2018 following a dispute over fees and an unpaid loan.
According to Black, a review by the law firm Dechert, which examined 60,000 documents and interviewed 20 people, found no evidence he participated in any crimes related to Epstein. Black stated he commissioned this review and made the results public.
Black first met Epstein in the mid-1990s and continued to engage his services after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor, believing it to be an isolated incident. He stated he was unaware of Epstein's sex trafficking activities until Epstein was charged in July 2019.
An Epstein victim reportedly told agents in 2019 that Epstein directed her to give massages to Black and others. However, New York prosecutors did not file charges against Black following an examination of the claim.
Black also addressed civil suits brought by the Wigdor law firm, calling them "baseless" and "fabricated." He noted that two suits were dismissed and that in a third, a judge sanctioned the plaintiff and her lawyer for submitting false evidence. Black stated that these allegations led to death threats and the need for him to hire a bodyguard.
The House Oversight Committee's investigation into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking of minors, began nearly a year ago. The committee has previously interviewed figures such as former President Bill Clinton and billionaire Bill Gates, both of whom have denied wrongdoing.
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif.), the ranking member of the Oversight Committee, supported the decision to subpoena Black, noting that the witness was not answering critical questions at the start of the interview.