Billionaire Leon Black failed to appear on Thursday at a hearing of the U.S. Congress, where he had been summoned to testify about his financial ties to Jeffrey Epstein. His absence could lead to the initiation of contempt of Congress proceedings.
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Black, the co-founder of Apollo Global Management, was considered one of Epstein’s main clients. The House of Representatives is investigating their financial ties, as well as the agreements linking Black to the convicted sex offender.
In his previous testimony, held in June, Black said he had paid Epstein approximately $158 million for tax and wealth advisory services. He said he had been unaware of Epstein’s criminal activity and denied any allegations of sexual assault against women.
The June hearing was interrupted after Black refused to answer several questions about nondisclosure agreements signed with women. Afterward, lawmakers summoned him again to testify under oath and submit documents related to those agreements.
But the billionaire did not comply with the new subpoena. Instead, he chose to file a lawsuit in federal court challenging Congress’s demands, arguing that the investigation falls outside the committee’s mandate.
Susan Estrich, Black’s lawyer, said the committee was conducting an investigation beyond its authority. She also accused lawmakers of seeking to damage her client’s reputation.
Meanwhile, more than a dozen women who have said they were sexually assaulted by Epstein called on Black to comply with Congress’s demands. They believe the nondisclosure agreements could shed light on his relationship with Epstein and with other people in the financier’s circle.
“It is sad that Leon Black prefers to hide behind a legal battle rather than answer the questions of the American people,” said James Comer, the committee’s Republican chairman. He added that further steps would be considered.
Democrat Robert Garcia also called for contempt of Congress proceedings to begin, pointing out that Black has now disregarded two subpoenas to testify.
