House panel subpoenas Leon Black in Epstein network probe

The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Leon Black after the private equity billionaire walked out of a closed-door interview and refused to keep answering questions about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Chairman James Comer demanded that Black turn over all non-disclosure agreements he is party to and return for a deposition on July 16.

Black had appeared voluntarily before the committee on June 26 in a transcribed interview. In prepared remarks, he said Epstein duped him into paying what he believed were tax-deductible fees for estate and tax planning, and said he ultimately paid $158 million over five years rather than the $95 million he thought he was paying. Black said Epstein extracted about $63 million more than he believed he owed, and he denied any knowledge of Epstein’s sexual abuse, sex trafficking, blackmail, or access-for-pay arrangements.

Comer said Black refused to answer questions about non-disclosure agreements tied to women and possible victims, which led to the subpoenas. Garcia supported the move and said survivors had accused Black of horrific things. Suhas Subramanyam, who sits on the panel, said it was the first time he had seen a witness walk out in the middle of an interview and described Black’s praise of Epstein’s intelligence as unusual. Black’s attorney, Susan Estrich, called the subpoenas a “premeditated political decision.”

The committee’s move followed a June 4 referral from Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden. A four-year investigation found Black paid Epstein $170 million over five years for purported tax and estate planning advice. Wyden said Black had never given a credible explanation for paying Epstein far more than other professional advisers. Black's appearance was the committee's 16th closed-door interview in the broader Epstein probe.

Apollo Global Management released an independent board review in January 2021 after retaining Dechert LLP to examine the relationship, and Black stepped down as Apollo’s chief executive that month. In 2023, Black paid $62.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands in a settlement tied to potential claims from the territory’s Epstein-related investigation.