Leon Black has sued the House Oversight Committee to block a subpoena demanding his testimony about ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Black, 75, the former CEO of Apollo Global Management, filed the lawsuit Thursday in federal court, calling the congressional subpoena “invalid” and arguing the inquiry “bears no legitimate connection to [a] legislative purpose.” The billionaire, ranked by Forbes as America’s 78th-richest person with an estimated net worth of $13.8 billion, is fighting to avoid appearing before lawmakers probing his financial relationship with the late sex trafficker.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, 53, fired back that Black is “hiding behind litigation” to dodge questions. Comer said Black’s testimony is crucial to the investigation because he was one of Epstein’s fee-paying clients and has several nondisclosure agreements.
“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,” Comer said.
Comer added that he believes Black is trying to run out the clock on the current congressional session, which ends Jan. 3, 2027, after which the subpoena would have to be reissued if Black does not appear.
Black stepped down from Apollo in 2021 after an independent review commissioned by the firm found he steered $158 million to Epstein in exchange for financial advice and purported charitable work. The massive payments became public through the review, which Apollo initiated amid growing scrutiny of Black’s association with Epstein, who was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting federal sex trafficking charges.
Epstein’s death was ruled a suicide, but it fueled intense conspiracy theories and intensified congressional interest in his powerful associates. Black has consistently maintained that his payments to Epstein were for legitimate financial and tax advisory services, though the scale of the transactions—totaling $158 million over several years—has drawn sustained scrutiny from lawmakers and investigators.
The subpoena battle marks the latest escalation in Congress’s efforts to probe Epstein’s network of wealthy clients and collaborators. Comer has made the investigation a priority for the Oversight Committee, targeting prominent figures whose names appeared in Epstein’s records or who had documented financial dealings with him.
Black’s legal strategy of challenging the subpoena’s validity rather than invoking Fifth Amendment protections during testimony suggests his attorneys are contesting the committee’s jurisdictional authority rather than the substance of potential answers. The lawsuit throws into question whether lawmakers will secure his appearance before the current Congress adjourns.
The timing carries significant stakes for the investigation. With the congressional session’s January 2027 end date approaching, any successful delay tactic by Black could force the committee to restart the subpoena process entirely if Republicans maintain control, or potentially see the inquiry dropped if Democrats take the majority and shift priorities.