Billionaire Leon Black sued the House Oversight Committee for subpoenaing him over nondisclosure agreements allegedly linked to Jeffrey Epstein, arguing the panel has exceeded its authority.
The lawsuit, which also named Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., as a defendant, was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Black alleges that the committee cannot compel him to release the NDAs and that the subpoenas risk entangling women with no connection to Epstein.
Black was also due to appear for a deposition before the committee on Thursday, but failed to do so, defying another subpoena from the committee.
A co-founder of Apollo Global Management, Black paid Epstein more than $150 million for what he described as tax- and estate-planning services. In June, after he refused to answer questions in a voluntary interview with the committee about NDAs he allegedly signed with women tied to Epstein, Comer issued two subpoenas to Black: one for him to hand over the alleged NDAs, and the other for his deposition before the committee on Sept. 3.
Black has said he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and that he was deceived by Epstein. He has denied any wrongdoing.
In his lawsuit, the investor said the committee has no authority to seek “private information that bears no legitimate connection” to its legislative purpose. The panel’s subpoenas, he alleged, 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.”
Susan Estrich, Black’s lawyer, said in a statement that the lawmakers abused their congressional power to target Black.
“The Committee is on a fishing expedition that oversteps its authority and completely ignores its responsibility,” Estrich said. “This is no longer about finding the truth about Epstein. It is about trying to destroy Mr. Black.”
Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, called for Black to be held in contempt for defying both congressional subpoenas.
“His connections to Epstein and his unwillingness to cooperate are unacceptable. We must hold him in contempt immediately,” the California Democrat said in a statement.
Comer said he and the panel’s members will discuss next steps as it pertains to Black. The Kentucky Republican previously threatened contempt proceedings against the investor if he defied the subpoenas.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Mychael Schnell and Syedah Asghar contributed reporting.
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