House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., issued two subpoenas to private equity billionaire Leon Black on Friday, compelling him to appear for a deposition on July 16 and produce nondisclosure agreements. The action followed Black's refusal to answer certain questions during a closed-door transcribed interview regarding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Comer stated that Black's unwillingness to discuss the terms and substance of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) was critical to the committee's investigation. "NDAs are between him and other women. We want to know, was Jeffrey Epstein involved in the NDAs? Was he involved in writing? Was he involved in awarding funds to the women for the NDAs? What was the reason for the NDA? We don't know everything about the NDAs, so that's very important to our investigation," Comer told reporters, explaining the necessity of the subpoenas.
Black, who had a social relationship with Epstein since the mid-1990s and paid him over $170 million for tax and estate planning advice, walked out of the voluntary interview. According to committee members, this marked the first time a witness had left an interview midway through the probe.
Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the ranking committee member, agreed with the decision to issue subpoenas, emphasizing that the NDAs are central to understanding the events. "There are real accusations, and there are survivors who have accused Mr. Black of horrific things," Garcia said.
Black's attorney, Susan Estrich, called the subpoena issuance a "premeditated political decision" and asserted that Epstein had no involvement with any purported nondisclosure agreements. Estrich claimed the interview lasted less than an hour before subpoenas were served and that questions about Black's payments to Epstein were not even asked.
During his interview, Black maintained that the money paid to Epstein was for legitimate services and "bona fide advice," and that he was unaware of Epstein's "demonic life." In prepared remarks, Black stated he had never abused a woman, been with an underage woman, engaged in sex trafficking, paid Epstein for access to women, or been blackmailed by him. He also claimed no knowledge of Epstein's "heinous conduct."
Black described his relationship with Epstein as initially personal, growing into Epstein helping manage his family investment office. He said Epstein lived a "Jekyll and Hyde" existence, and that he, with hindsight, saw Epstein as someone who "exaggerated, embellished, manipulated, and outright lied." Black noted that Epstein was able to resolve a significant estate problem for him, though Epstein had lied about the tax deductibility of payments, leading to a higher actual fee than initially understood.
Black stated he was aware of Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor but claimed Epstein lied about the crime's nature, calling it an "isolated incident resulting from a fake ID." Black said he gave Epstein a "second chance, as did many others," a decision he regretted. He reportedly cut ties with Epstein in 2018 after Epstein failed to repay a $30 million loan.
Comer had previously indicated that Black's appearance could be "the most groundbreaking deposition" in the committee's probe, citing concerning documents and survivor statements. The committee's investigation aims to determine how the government failed to prosecute Epstein and to provide transparency to the American people.
Senator Ron Wyden, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, which is conducting its own investigation into Epstein's finances, has urged the House Oversight Committee to scrutinize the $170 million Black paid Epstein between 2012 and 2017 for purported tax and estate planning. Wyden noted these payments were significantly higher than those Epstein received from his other tax and estate professionals during the same period, suggesting potential extortion or other unseemly tasks performed by Epstein on Black's behalf.
An external investigation conducted for Black's former firm, Apollo Global Management, which revealed payments to Epstein totaling at least $158 million, concluded that Black was not involved in Epstein's criminal activities or aware of the scope of his sex trafficking. Black has never been charged with a crime. That report stated that investigators found no evidence that Black compensated Epstein for services other than legitimate advice on trust and estate planning.