Billionaire investor Leon Black sues and declines to testify in House committee’s Epstein investigation

By Annie Grayer, CNN

(CNN) — Billionaire investor Leon Black is suing the House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein to try and block the panel from obtaining his non-disclosure agreements and testimony.

Black’s refusal to turn over the documents and appear for his deposition in front of the House Oversight Committee on Thursday marks a major escalation in the behind-the-scenes back and forth that has been brewing between the two sides for months.

In a letter to the committee obtained by CNN, Black’s attorneys argued that the non-disclosure agreements the panel was seeking were too broad, had no connection to Epstein and disregarded the privacy interests of third parties.

“Congress is not entitled to subpoena documents from a private citizen on the inchoate hope that something useful might show up,” his attorneys wrote.

As a result of the impasse, Black’s team made clear that the billionaire would not be appearing for his scheduled deposition and would be pursuing legal action.

“At this juncture, the parties have an irreconcilable disagreement regarding the scope of any further testimony and production,” they wrote. “The Committee has left Mr. Black with no choice but to avail himself of a legal remedy.”

Black’s attorneys argue in the lawsuit that the congressional subpoenas of him are “invalid.”

“It’s a shame Leon Black is hiding behind litigation rather than provide answers to the American people,” House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said in a statement. “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.”

Comer, who said that Black also filed a lawsuit against him individually as the chair of the committee, told reporters he supports holding Black in contempt of Congress but wants to discuss how to approach the unprecedented situation with House counsel first because his ultimate goal is securing Black’s testimony and obtaining the multiple NDAs.

“I think we could do contempt right now. And that’s fine with me. But we’re going to consult with our legal team, with the House counsel,” Comer said. “I don’t want to walk into any trap that would somehow let him, through some mistake that we make get out of having to answer questions.”

But Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight panel, said in a statement that the panel should not wait to hold Black in contempt for refusing to appear for his deposition and comply with Congress’ subpoenas.

“By refusing to testify today, Leon Black is now defying two Congressional subpoenas. Black gave Jeffrey Epstein over $180 million over six years. He funded Epstein’s abuse and trafficking of women. 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,” Garcia said.

Black initially appeared for a voluntary interview in June but that ended abruptly when Comer issued two subpoenas after Black refused to answer a series of questions.

Black is one of many influential and wealthy individuals whose past relationships with Epstein have come under further scrutiny since the Justice Department’s release of millions of Epstein files.

In his voluntary closed-door June interview, Black told members of Congress that he did not know the extent of Epstein’s crimes – and that he himself never abused women or had sexual relations with minors, according to a copy of his opening remarks shared by his legal team.

“We want to reiterate that Mr. Black had no awareness of the criminal activities that led to Epstein’s arrest in 2019. Mr. Black never abused a woman. He never was with an underage woman. He never engaged in sex trafficking. He never paid Epstein for access to women. He was never blackmailed by Epstein,” his attorneys wrote in a separate statement announcing the lawsuit.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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