US billionaire Leon Black defends US$158 million paid to Epstein

Billionaire investor Leon Black said on Friday that Jeffrey Epstein deceived him during a years-long relationship in which he paid the disgraced financier US$158 million, but insisted he committed no criminal wrongdoing as he appeared before the House Oversight Committee.

Black is the 16th person to appear before the committee as part of their broader investigation into the web of wealth and influence around Epstein.

Before entering the closed-door deposition, congressman James Comer, the House committee chairman, told reporters he believed it might be the most “groundbreaking” yet.

“This could be a pretty significant deposition as we try to get answers,” said Comer.

Black is the co-founder and former chief executive of the private equity firm Apollo Global Management. He stepped down in 2021 amid fallout over his ties to Epstein.

Black maintained Friday that he was not aware of Epstein’s “nefarious activity” until 2019 and that he paid Epstein for legitimate purposes, in part due to his “unrivalled network of relationships” with influential figures.