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Billionaire investor Leon Black declined to testify before the House Oversight Committee in June. Instead he filed a federal lawsuit that declares the subpoenas issued by the committee “invalid” and claims the requests harm private individuals.
The suit contends that the subpoenas forced Black to disclose non‑disclosure agreements with undisclosed parties, potentially exposing women who owe confidentiality. Black has asserted that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities until 2019 and that the payments to Epstein were strictly for legitimate services.
Committee members sharpened their accusations, announcing that failure to comply could trigger contempt proceedings. Representative Robert Garcia announced that the committee would reference the matter to the Department of Justice if Black’s refusal continued.
Black’s attorney, Susan Estrich, characterized the subpoenas as “an abuse of congressional power” and urged the court to block them. The lawsuit also touches upon a prior legal dispute involving a former Russian model, noting that a non‑disclosure agreement was signed in 2015 to secure her silence.
The case underscores the tension between investigative committees and high‑profile figures who claim privacy rights conflict with a public inquiry into Epstein’s network. Only time will show whether the court sides with Black or affirms the committee’s authority to compel testimony.
