Leon Black Sues Congress Over Epstein Subpoenas as Pressure Mounts

By Benson Daniel

Billionaire investor Leon Black has escalated his battle with Congress, filing a lawsuit against the House Oversight Committee after refusing to comply with subpoenas issued as part of its investigation into his long standing relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Black was scheduled to appear before the committee on Thursday for a sworn deposition but did not attend. Instead, his legal team went to court seeking to block the subpoenas, arguing that lawmakers have gone beyond the legitimate scope of their investigation.

The confrontation marks a sharp escalation in a dispute that began in June, when Black appeared voluntarily before the committee but left the closed door session after refusing to answer some questions.

Lawmakers subsequently issued two subpoenas. One demanded documents, including nondisclosure agreements, while the second required Black to return for a deposition under oath.

Black’s lawyers have argued that the committee is demanding private agreements that have little or no connection to Epstein and that the investigation has moved beyond legitimate congressional oversight. His legal team maintains that Black is willing to discuss his financial relationship with Epstein but objects to handing over documents that it considers unrelated to the investigation.

Black paid Epstein tens of millions of dollars for tax and estate planning services. Reports have put the total value of payments at about $158m, a relationship that has drawn intense scrutiny since Epstein’s criminal conduct became widely known.

Black has maintained that he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities until 2019. He has also defended the financial transactions as legitimate professional services.

His relationship with Epstein nevertheless became a major source of controversy and contributed to Black’s decision to step down as chief executive of Apollo Global Management in 2021.

The congressional investigation has focused partly on nondisclosure agreements and whether such agreements could shed light on Epstein’s relationships with women and other people within his network. More than a dozen Epstein survivors had urged Black to comply with the subpoenas before his scheduled appearance, arguing that his cooperation could help investigators establish a fuller picture of Epstein’s activities.

The latest refusal has already triggered calls for congressional action against the billionaire.

Representative Robert Garcia, the committee’s top Democrat, said Black was now defying two congressional subpoenas and called for him to be held in contempt. The dispute could therefore move beyond the civil lawsuit and into a broader congressional enforcement battle.

House Oversight Chairman James Comer had previously warned that Black could face contempt proceedings if he failed to cooperate with the investigation.

Black’s legal challenge comes amid renewed congressional scrutiny of Epstein’s network and demands for greater disclosure of documents connected to the case. Lawmakers from both parties have pressed for additional information, while survivors have repeatedly called for greater transparency.

The investigation has also placed renewed attention on the powerful figures who maintained relationships with Epstein before his crimes became fully exposed.

Black has not been accused of participating in Epstein’s sexual crimes, and an earlier review commissioned by Black found no evidence linking him to Epstein’s criminal activities. His lawyers have stressed that distinction while challenging what they describe as an overly broad congressional inquiry.

The legal fight now puts a federal court in the position of potentially determining how far Congress can go in demanding private records from a billionaire whose relationship with Epstein remains under scrutiny.

For lawmakers investigating Epstein, however, the issue is unlikely to end with Black’s lawsuit. His refusal to return for questioning has instead intensified the pressure on both sides, with Congress seeking greater access to documents and testimony while Black fights to limit what he is required to disclose.