Black's Epstein Denials
Leon Black Claims Epstein Duped Him in Testimony Over $158 Million Payments
Key Points
Black stepped down as Apollo Global Management CEO in 2021 after an outside law firm review found he had paid Epstein $158 million for tax and estate planning.
He also paid $62.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2023 to avoid legal claims tied to Epstein-related investigations.
In prepared testimony, Black said he first paid Epstein in 2013 after knowing him for about 18 years and described Epstein as having an 'unrivaled network' of relationships in finance, academia, science and politics.
DoJ documents released in January included a 'PROMINENT NAMES' list connected to Epstein, naming figures such as Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew among others.
Black’s deposition was subpoenaed over non-disclosure agreements with Epstein’s victims; he appeared for a voluntary interview but his attorneys argued the subpoenas were politically motivated and he did not fully satisfy the panel’s questions.
Billionaire investor Leon Black told a House panel on June 26, 2026, that Jeffrey Epstein "duped and deceived" him into paying $158 million in fees he believed were legitimate. Black said he knew only Epstein's "Jekyll" side — not the "Hyde" who ran a sex-trafficking network. "I wish I had never met Epstein," he said. "I regret ever doing business with him."
The voluntary interview ended abruptly when Black refused to answer questions about non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs, with Epstein's victims. House Oversight Chairman James Comer then issued two subpoenas — one for the NDAs themselves and one for a sworn deposition in mid-July. Black now faces possible contempt of Congress if he refuses to comply, according to CBS News.
$158 Million in Fees Cost Black His CEO Job
Black stepped down as CEO of Apollo Global Management in January 2021. That came after the law firm Dechert LLP found he had paid Epstein $158 million between 2012 and 2017 for tax and estate planning. Black says those services saved his family trusts between $1 billion and $2 billion in taxes, according to Forbes. But Senate investigators say the fees were roughly 30 times higher than what elite firms like Paul Weiss charge for similar work.
In 2023, Black paid another $62.5 million to settle legal claims with the U.S. Virgin Islands, which had investigated Epstein's crimes there. In his prepared testimony, Black said he first started paying Epstein in 2013 — about 18 years after they met — calling him someone with an "unrivaled network" across finance, academia, and politics, according to AP News.
NDAs With Victims Become the Central Mystery
The House Oversight Committee wants to know whether Epstein used some of Black's money to pay women to sign NDAs — legal agreements that silence them. Chairman Comer said, "Answers about the terms and substance of these NDAs are critical to our investigation... We want to know everything." Ranking Member Rep. Robert Garcia added that Black "ran out of the room when he was pressed" on the topic, according to Forbes.
Black's lead attorney, Susan Estrich, pushed back hard. She called the hearing "nothing more than a planned political stunt" and said Epstein had no involvement with any NDAs. But both Republican Chair Comer and Democrat Garcia backed the subpoenas — a rare show of bipartisan unity, according to AP News.
DOJ Files Name Trump, Clinton, and Prince Andrew
On January 30, 2026, the DOJ released millions of documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Those files included a "PROMINENT NAMES" list tied to Epstein. It named Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew, among others. The House voted 427–1 in November 2025 to release the files, showing broad political will for transparency, according to Newsweek.
Senator Ron Wyden of the Senate Finance Committee released his own findings in March 2026. He alleged the $158 million was partly used as "hush money" and that Epstein surveilled women on Black's behalf. Wyden told Black directly: "Files released by the DOJ continue to undermine your assertion that Epstein provided uniquely valuable tax advice." Black denies all of it.
What Comes Next: A July Deposition Under Oath
Black must return for a sworn deposition in mid-July 2026. If he again refuses to answer questions about the NDAs, he could face contempt of Congress charges, according to CBS News. Legal critics, including the Wigdor Law firm representing some victims, argue Black's settlements — including the $62.5 million USVI deal — are attempts to "buy immunity" and dodge accountability.
Senator Wyden's investigation may also lead to new laws. His probe into what he calls "abusive and potentially fraudulent tax schemes" could tighten rules around private family trusts and high-value consulting fees. Meanwhile, Apollo Global Management continues trying to distance itself from its founder's past — but the scrutiny is not going away.
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