WASHINGTON — The House Oversight Committee issued two subpoenas to billionaire investor Leon Black on Friday after he refused to answer questions about nondisclosure agreements during a closed-door interview as part of the panel’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
Committee Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, announced the subpoenas during a break in Black’s voluntary transcribed interview. One subpoena demands that Black produce any nondisclosure agreements he entered into, including those potentially linked to Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The second requires Black to appear for a sworn deposition before the committee on July 16.
“Answers about the terms and substance of these NDAs are critical to our investigation,” Comer said in a statement. “We owe it to the American people to provide transparency and ensure accountability for survivors.”
Black, the co-founder of Apollo Global Management, abruptly left the interview after the subpoenas were issued, according to lawmakers and reports from the closed session.
In prepared remarks reviewed by media outlets, Black told the committee he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and described payments totaling about $158 million to the late financier as compensation for “bona fide advice.” He has previously denied any involvement in or awareness of Epstein’s criminal activities.
Black’s attorney, Susan Estrich, described the subpoenas as “nothing more than a planned political stunt” and said Epstein had no involvement in any NDAs her client may have signed.
The Oversight Committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, said Black “stormed out” when pressed on the agreements.
The subpoenas escalate the Republican-led panel’s probe into Epstein’s network of wealthy and powerful associates. Epstein, who died by suicide in a federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, had cultivated relationships with prominent figures in finance, politics and other fields. Black has acknowledged a yearslong association with Epstein but has maintained he was unaware of the financier’s sex crimes.
The committee is seeking documents and testimony to better understand Epstein’s activities and potential enablers. Black’s appearance marked one of the more high-profile voluntary interviews in the ongoing inquiry.
No immediate response was available from Black’s representatives beyond the attorney’s statement. The committee has not released a transcript of Friday’s session.
Black is scheduled to return for the compelled deposition on July 16.
