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Billionaire Leon Black sues House Oversight Committee over Epstein probe subpoenas
Confirmed
In Short: Billionaire Leon Black has sued the House Oversight Committee, seeking to stop the panel from enforcing its subpoenas in an ongoing probe of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The committee's chair, Kentucky Rep. James Comer, had previously announced a pair of subpoenas demandin
Billionaire Leon Black has sued the House Oversight Committee, seeking to stop the panel from enforcing its subpoenas in an ongoing probe of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The committee's chair, Kentucky Rep. James Comer, had previously announced a pair of subpoenas demanding Black return for a sworn, videotaped deposition and turn over information related to the nondisclosure agreements he signed with women.
Comer said he wanted to know if Epstein was involved in any of Black's nondisclosure agreement negotiations. However, Black's lawyer, Michael Estrich, said the committee's actions were an abuse of power, stating,
The Committee's ranking member, California Rep. Robert Garcia, called for Black to be held in contempt. Comer expressed disappointment, saying,
Black, who first met Epstein in the 1990s and began paying him for wealth management advice in 2013, said he feels
but acknowledged paying Epstein $158 million for his work. He also regretted employing Epstein, calling him a liar.
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the main investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. The committee's broad jurisdiction and legislative authority make it one of the most influential and powerful panels in the House.
Background
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the main investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. The committee's broad jurisdiction and legislative authority make it one of the most influential and powerful panels in the House.
What's confirmed
- "This is no longer about finding the truth about Epstein. It is about trying to destroy Mr. Black. We were left with no choice but to file this lawsuit in response to an abuse of Congressional power," Estrich said.
What's still developing
- Soon after he left, the committee's chair, Kentucky Rep. James Comer, announced a pair of subpoenas demanding Black return for a sworn, videotaped deposition and turn over information related to the nondisclosure…
- Comer said after Black's June appearance that he wanted to know if Epstein was involved in any of Black's nondisclosure agreement negotiations.
- The Committee's ranking member, California Rep. Robert Garcia, called for Black to be held in contempt.
- "We're very disappointed. I don't think I need to tell anyone in here how important of a witness Mr. Black is to this investigation," Comer said.
- "Choose method of message delivery, my choice. - two highly respected former ---- fill in the blank, immigration, scotland yard. sfo. who may knock on her door and present the terms," wrote Epstein, who had an…
- Black said during his June appearance before Congress that he first met Epstein in the 1990s, and began paying him for wealth management advice in 2013.
- Black said he feels "terrible for Epstein's victims," but acknowledged paying him $158 million for his work.
- Black said he employed Epstein in part because of his relationships with a lengthy list of powerful people.