Leon Black Sues Oversight Leader Over Epstein Testimony
The billionaire claims Rep. Robert Garcia defamed him by stating he was directly involved in Jeffrey Epstein's criminal conduct.
By Renata Mehta ·
Leon Black has filed a defamation lawsuit against Rep. Robert Garcia, the California Democrat who currently leads the House Oversight Committee. The legal action was submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Wednesday. Black accuses Garcia of knowingly lying about his connection to Jeffrey Epstein.
The suit targets specific remarks Garcia made regarding Black's role in Epstein's operations. Black argues that Garcia falsely claimed he was at the center of and directly involved in Epstein's crimes. This legal move follows a series of contentious interactions between the former private equity investor and the committee.
Garcia's office did not immediately respond to questions about the new filing. In September, Garcia addressed a previous suit Black filed against the committee itself. At that time, Garcia stated that Black funded Epstein's abuse and trafficking of women. He added that multiple women have accused Black of sexual assault and called his unwillingness to cooperate unacceptable.
A spokesperson for Black issued a statement on Wednesday to counter those claims. The representative wrote that Black has never abused a woman. The statement further noted that Black has never been with an underage woman, never participated in sex trafficking, and never paid Epstein for women.
The dispute stems from the committee's effort to compel Black's testimony. The Republican-led group voted unanimously in September to hold Black in contempt after he refused to comply with subpoenas. Black sat for a voluntary closed-door interview over the summer but left before it concluded. He later missed a deposition and sued the committee to block the subpoenas.
The Justice Department said on September 16 that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia will review the contempt referral. The department stated it will not hesitate to pursue additional cases where evidence supports them. No charges have been filed against Black. The case against the committee remains in litigation.
Black stepped down from Apollo Global Management in 2021 after an independent review of his ties to Epstein. That review found he was not involved in Epstein's criminal activities. With Democrats scheduled to take control of the House in January, Garcia is expected to serve as the new chair of the Oversight Committee.
