Billionaire Leon Black Subpoenaed After Leaving Epstein Hearing

Billionaire investor Leon Black walked out of a closed-door congressional hearing after refusing to answer questions regarding non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) associated with his previous financial ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Lawmakers from the House Oversight Committee, who are investigating Epstein’s connections to high-profile figures, subsequently issued subpoenas for Black to turn over documentation of these agreements and testify under oath on-camera. Black, who co-founded Apollo Global Management, maintains that all payments made to Epstein were for legitimate tax and estate planning services.

The investigation is exploring allegations that Black may have intentionally overpaid Epstein—citing figures around $158 million—as a means to mask personal transactions. While Black has insisted that he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities until 2019, his testimony was interrupted when the committee pressed him on the specific reasons for the NDAs. His legal counsel has dismissed the committee’s inquiries as a political stunt, arguing that the lawmakers failed to address the legitimacy of the tax advice provided by Epstein.

This incident is part of a larger ongoing investigation into the network surrounding Epstein, including specific allegations involving a former associate and previous non-disclosure settlements. Despite Black’s assertion that he was a victim of extortion in past legal disputes, the committee has vowed to hold him accountable for non-compliance with their investigative subpoenas. As the investigation progresses, lawmakers are seeking clarity on whether Epstein was involved in the creation or funding of the NDAs linked to Black’s personal and business affairs.