Leon Black Testifies Before House Oversight on Epstein Payments

Billionaire investor Leon Black appeared before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on June 26 2026 to answer questions about his long‑standing relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Black acknowledged paying Epstein roughly $158 million between 2012 and 2017 for what he described as “bona‑fide tax and estate‑planning advice,” but insisted he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal conduct. He told the panel, “I have never abused a woman. I have never been with an underage woman,” and denied paying Epstein for access to women.

Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer issued two subpoenas after Black refused to discuss nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) tied to Epstein’s victims: one demanding the production of all NDAs and another compelling Black to appear for a formal deposition on July 16. When the panel pressed him on the NDAs, Black walked out of the closed‑door interview. Senator Ron Wyden and other lawmakers have highlighted the payments as a possible avenue for Epstein to influence or conceal wrongdoing. An internal Apollo Global Management review concluded the payments were for legitimate services, and Black maintains he committed no criminal wrongdoing.

The hearing is part of a broader congressional probe into Epstein’s network of wealth and influence, which has already called several high‑profile figures to testify. Black’s testimony and the subpoenas signal the committee’s intent to uncover any hidden agreements that may have shielded Epstein’s activities.