Leon Black skips Epstein deposition, sues Congress

Billionaire US investor Leon Black failed to appear for a congressional deposition Thursday over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and filed a federal lawsuit challenging the subpoenas.

The House Oversight Committee's top Democrat, Robert Garcia, called for Black to be held in contempt of Congress, saying he was defying two subpoenas.

Committee chairman James Comer, a Republican, said Black was “hiding behind litigation rather than provide answers to the American people”. Comer said the panel would proceed with an “empty chair” in the hearing room for the record and consult members over possible next steps.

Black's lawsuit argues that lawmakers exceeded their authority by demanding to see nondisclosure agreements he signed with women who have no known connection to Epstein. Susan Estrich, Black's lawyer, said in a statement reported by multiple US media outlets that the committee was on a “fishing expedition” and had overstepped its authority.

Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving minors, in what was determined to be a suicide. Black, the co-founder of Apollo Global Management, was one of Epstein's biggest clients.

Black acknowledged during an appearance before the committee in June that he paid Epstein $158 million for tax and estate-planning advice. He has said he knew nothing of Epstein's criminal activities and has denied abusing women.

The June session ended after Black declined to answer questions about some nondisclosure agreements, prompting lawmakers to subpoena him to return for a sworn, videotaped deposition and turn over related documents.

More than a dozen survivors of Epstein's abuse had urged Black this week to comply with the subpoenas, saying Congress should examine whether his nondisclosure agreements shed light on his relationship with Epstein and others in the financier's orbit.

President Donald Trump, a longtime associate of Epstein, fought for months to prevent release of the Justice Department's so-called “Epstein Files” but eventually signed a law passed by Congress requiring their publication. Trump's name appears in the documents repeatedly, but he denies wrongdoing and has not been charged with any criminal offences connected to the affair.