Leon Black denies Epstein wrongdoing, then gets House subpoenas for July deposition

Testimony before the panel

Leon Black, co-founder and former CEO of Apollo Global Management, appeared voluntarily before the House Oversight Committee on Friday. In a prepared opening statement, Black denied any involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex crimes. “I have never abused a woman. I have never been with an underage woman,” he said, adding that he never engaged in sex trafficking, never paid Epstein for access to women, and was never blackmailed by the financier.

“I knew Jekyll. I didn’t know Hyde.”

Black portrayed himself as a victim of Epstein’s deception, saying he had been “duped and deceived” during an 18-year acquaintance. He maintained that he hired Epstein solely for tax and estate planning services and that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s “heinous conduct.”

Subpoenas and abrupt departure

After Black finished his opening statement, committee Chairman James Comer pressed him about nondisclosure agreements he had signed with women. When Black declined to discuss the terms, Comer issued two subpoenas: one compelling Black to appear for a deposition on July 16 and another requiring him to turn over all NDAs. Black then walked out of the voluntary interview.

“The NDAs are between him and other women. We want to know: Was Jeffrey Epstein involved in the NDAs? Was he involved in awarding funds to the women for the NDAs? What was the reason for the NDAs?”

Comer told reporters the deposition could be “groundbreaking” and that the committee has hundreds of questions about Black’s financial transactions and communications with survivors.

Background: payments and lawsuits

A 2021 Apollo-commissioned review found Black paid Epstein $158 million between 2012 and 2017. Senate investigators cite total fees of roughly $170 million. Black also lent Epstein $30 million. After the payments came to light, Black stepped down from Apollo in 2021. In 2023, he paid $62.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands to avoid legal claims tied to an Epstein investigation.

Three women have sued Black for alleged sexual abuse. One suit was dismissed, one withdrawn, and one remains pending. Black denies all accusations and has not been criminally charged. He told the committee he regretted giving Epstein a second chance after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea, saying Epstein had falsely told him the conviction was an “isolated incident” involving a fake ID.

Epstein’s crimes and death

Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor and served 13 months in jail. In July 2019, he was indicted on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy. He died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell the following month. The House panel’s year-long probe has interviewed 16 people connected to Epstein, including former government officials and business figures.