Leon Black tells House panel he paid Epstein $158 million before learning of crimes

Billionaire investor Leon Black told the House Oversight Committee on Friday that he paid Jeffrey Epstein $158 million for tax, estate planning and related services between 2012 and 2017. Black said he did not know of Epstein's criminal conduct until 2019 and maintained that the payments were for legitimate work.

Committee investigation The closed-door session marked the 16th appearance in the panel's review of Epstein's network of wealthy associates. Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer told reporters before the deposition that the session could prove significant. Black, co-founder and former chief executive of Apollo Global Management, left the firm in 2021 after his ties to Epstein became public.

" Black said he gave Epstein a second chance after the financier's 2008 guilty plea. " — Leon Black, June 26, 2026 (Associated Press) Black is mentioned repeatedly in Justice Department files released in connection with the Epstein investigation and in a collection of birthday messages released by the committee last year.