Leon Black Sues Oversight Leader Over Epstein Testimony Claims

Leon Black filed a defamation lawsuit against Representative Robert Garcia on Wednesday in the Southern District of New York. The suit accuses the California Democrat of knowingly and willfully lying about Black and damaging his reputation. Black argues that Garcia’s public statements falsely placed him at the center of Jeffrey Epstein's criminal activities.

Garcia serves as the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, the body that led the congressional investigation into Epstein. Black’s legal team cited specific comments from Garcia, who stated that Black was directly involved with Epstein’s crimes. The lawsuit seeks to hold Garcia accountable for these assertions made during the ongoing scrutiny of the late financier's network.

The legal move comes as Black faces a separate battle with the Republican-led committee. In September, members voted unanimously to hold Black in contempt of Congress after he refused to comply with subpoenas. The committee issued these subpoenas to compel answers to questions they claimed Black avoided during a voluntary interview earlier in the summer. Black left that closed-door session before it concluded.

Black has not appeared for a subsequent deposition. He also sued the committee to block subpoenas for his appearance and for nondisclosure agreements related to Epstein. That case remains in litigation. The Justice Department stated on September 16 that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia would review the contempt referral carefully. No criminal charges have been filed against Black.

In a statement released Wednesday, a spokesperson for Black denied the allegations of misconduct. The spokesperson wrote that Black has never abused a woman, never been with an underage woman, and never been involved in sex trafficking. The statement also asserted that Black never paid Epstein for women.

Garcia had previously responded to Black’s suit against the committee in September. In that statement, Garcia said Black funded Epstein’s abuse and trafficking of women. Garcia added that multiple women accused Black of sexual assault and called his connections to Epstein and unwillingness to cooperate unacceptable. A spokesperson for Garcia did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new lawsuit.

Black stepped down from Apollo Global Management in 2021 after an independent review of his ties to Epstein. The review found he was not involved in Epstein’s criminal activities, a conclusion Black has maintained. Garcia is set to become the new chair of the Oversight Committee when Democrats take control of the House in January.