The billionaire appeared Friday before the House Oversight Committee. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., issued two subpoenas to Leon Black after Comer stated the private equity billionaire refused to answer several of the committee’s questions regarding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during Black’s closed-door appearance before the panel on Friday. Black, who was participating as part of an ongoing probe into the government’s investigation of Epstein, walked out of his transcribed interview while under questioning.
Comer told reporters that the two subpoenas compel Black to appear for a deposition on July 16 and produce purported nondisclosure agreements that were the subject of committee inquiries. “During today’s voluntary transcribed interview, Mr. Black stated he wouldn’t answer questions about NDAs. Answers about the terms and substance of these NDAs are critical to our investigation,” Comer said. “We owe it to the American people to provide transparency and ensure accountability for survivors.” Comer questioned whether Epstein was involved in writing the NDAs or awarding funds to the women involved. Ranking member Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., agreed with the decision, noting that the NDAs are central to understanding what occurred regarding real accusations made by survivors.
Black’s attorney, Susan Estrich, claimed the subpoenas were a “premeditated political decision” and asserted that Epstein had no involvement with the nondisclosure agreements. She stated that lawmakers did not ask a single question about legitimate payments to Epstein before issuing the subpoenas. Black, who maintained a social relationship with Epstein since the mid-1990s, previously paid him more than $170 million for “tax and estate planning advice,” according to the Senate Finance Committee. Black has denied wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, though the payments provided a lifeline to the financier following his 2008 prison sentence for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., noted that this was the first time a witness walked out during the probe, and Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Az., characterized Black’s demeanor as smug, stating that he refused to answer critical questions about sexual abuse allegations and NDAs while speaking fondly of Epstein. In his opening remarks, Black claimed he was unaware of Epstein’s “demonic life” and that his payments were for “bona fide advice.” He wrote that he wished he had never met Epstein, noting, “Extraordinary damage has been done to me and my family.” He denied ever abusing a woman or paying Epstein for access to women.
Black stated that he originally believed he was paying Epstein $95 million in net fees, though the amount was actually $158 million because Epstein lied about tax deductibility. He claimed he cut ties with Epstein in 2018 after Epstein failed to repay most of a $30 million loan. Black maintained he would not speak about the personal lives of adult women. The Department of Justice’s files, released earlier this year, contain Black’s name more than 8,000 times. In a 2014 email, Epstein told Black there was little he would not do for him, and in 2017, Epstein described his role as “saving you from yourself.” An external 2021 report found that Epstein was paid proportionally to the money he saved Black—which the report claimed was between $1 billion and $2 billion—but also noted Epstein was a “disruptive and caustic force.” During a 2020 earnings call, Black expressed regret over his association with Epstein, calling it a “horrible mistake.”
