Leon Black sues Garcia over Epstein statements

A federal lawsuit filed in New York challenges the public record of the House Oversight Committee's investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Leon Black, a former private equity executive, sued Rep. Robert Garcia of California on Wednesday in the Southern District of New York. Garcia serves as the top Democrat on the committee that has led congressional inquiries into Epstein.

Black is seeking $100 million in damages. He alleges that Garcia knowingly and willfully lied about him. The complaint points to specific remarks where Garcia stated that Black was at the center and directly involved with Epstein's crimes. Garcia is the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, which has spearheaded a Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

The dispute follows a contentious process during the summer. Black attended a voluntary closed-door interview with the committee but left before the session ended. Members subsequently issued subpoenas to compel answers to questions they said he skipped. Black did not appear for a later deposition. He then filed a separate suit to block the subpoenas and related nondisclosure agreements. That case remains in litigation.

In September, the Republican-led committee voted unanimously to hold Black in contempt of Congress. A spokesperson for Garcia did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new lawsuit. In a September statement regarding Black's earlier suit against the committee, Garcia said Black funded Epstein’s abuse and trafficking of women. Garcia added that multiple women accused Black of sexual assault and that his unwillingness to cooperate was unacceptable.

A spokesperson for Black released a statement on Wednesday addressing the new filing. The representative wrote that Black has never abused a woman, been with an underage woman, or been involved with sex trafficking. The spokesperson also stated that Black never paid Epstein for women. Black stepped down from Apollo Global Management in 2021 after an independent review of his ties to Epstein. The review found that Black was not involved in Epstein’s criminal activities, a finding Black has supported while denying wrongdoing.

The Justice Department indicated on Sept. 16 that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia would carefully review the contempt referral. No charges have been filed against Black. Garcia is positioned to become the new chair of the Oversight Committee when Democrats take control of the House in January.