Leon Black Sues House Oversight Committee and Refuses to Hand Over Docs Sought in Epstein Probe: Report

Billionaire Leon Black sued the House Oversight Committee and is refusing to appear Thursday for questioning, accusing the group of overstepping its authority — prompting calls to hold him in contempt of Congress.

The committee has been proving the private equity investor’s ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Black, 75, claimed in a Washington D.C. Federal Court filing that the committee has sought private information “that bears no legitimate connection” to its purpose, by issuing subpoenas for nondisclosure agreements he signed that were not related to Epstein, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The committee’s request would expose women “who value their privacy, who have no known or public connection to Epstein, who bargained for confidentiality and have refused to release it, and who have no ability to protect themselves and their privacy before the Committee,” Black said in the lawsuit, according to The Journal.

A lawyer for the co-founder of Apollo Management said the committee is on a “fishing expedition.”

“This is no longer about finding the truth about Epstein. It is about trying to destroy Mr. Black,” attorney Susan Estrich, said in a statement to the outlet.

Republican House Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer (R-KY) called Black out.

“It’s a shame Leon Black is hiding behind litigation rather than provide answers to the American people,” he said in a statement.

“Our investigation is examining how the federal government for decades failed survivors of Jeffery Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes and how Mr. Epstein sought to curry favor with influential individuals to avoid scrutiny,” Comer continued. “Mr. Black’s testimony is crucial to our investigation as he was one of Mr. Epstein’s fee paying clients and has several nondisclosure agreements.”

“Our deposition is moving forward this morning for the record and there will be an empty chair for Mr. Black. I will speak with our members about next steps.”

The committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), called for a contempt charge.

“By refusing to testify today, Leon Black is now defying two Congressional subpoenas,” Garcia said in a statement. “Multiple women have also accused Black of sexual assault. His connections to Epstein and his unwillingness to cooperate are unacceptable. We must hold him in contempt immediately.”

Black testified before the committee in June in a reportedly contentious closed door session in which he slammed the “ugly and vicious narratives” about him.

Black, who has denied any wrongdoing, stepped down as CEO of Apollo in 2021.

His relationship with Epstein, which included Black shelling out more than $150 million to the pedophile after Epstein was convicted for soliciting a minor for prostitution.

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