House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer issued two subpoenas to Leon Black while the billionaire investor was giving a transcribed interview to the committee, according to a statement from Comer.
The first subpoena compels Black to appear for a deposition on July 16, Comer said. The second orders production of nondisclosure agreements that lawmakers said involve women who have alleged ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Comer said the subpoenas were necessary after Black declined to answer questions about those NDAs. "Mr. Black stated he wouldn’t answer questions about NDAs," Comer said in his statement. "Answers about the terms and substance of these NDAs are critical to our investigation. For this reason, today I issued subpoenas to Mr. Black for NDAs and to appear for a deposition in the near future."
Black, 74, is a co-founder of Apollo Global Management Inc. (NYSE:APO). In his prepared opening remarks to the committee, he denied ever abusing women and said he was not blackmailed by Jeffrey Epstein, a longtime associate and client. Black said he chose to appear before the panel to clarify the nature of his relationship with Epstein and to explain why he paid him millions over the course of their association.
"I was not involved with, and had no knowledge of, any of Epstein’s heinous conduct," Black said in his statement to the committee.
After the hearing, Black’s attorney Susan Estrich spoke to reporters and characterized the subpoenas as politically motivated. "Mr. Black came here voluntarily to assist the committee. They made a premeditated political decision to serve him with subpoenas after less than an hour of questioning, and before they even asked a single question about his legitimate payments to Epstein. This was nothing more than a planned political stunt," Estrich said.
The committee’s action centers on both compelled testimony and the production of nondisclosure agreements tied to women the panel says have alleged connections to Epstein. The deposition date set for July 16 establishes a near-term deadline for Black to provide further sworn testimony to the panel.
The matter ties directly to Black’s relationship with Epstein and the financial payments Black acknowledged making; the committee’s request for NDAs seeks information about the terms and substance of those agreements. Black has denied involvement in or prior knowledge of Epstein’s criminal acts and asserted he was not blackmailed by Epstein.
No additional claims, dates, or outcomes beyond those presented at the hearing were disclosed in the committee’s statement or in the remarks provided by Black and his counsel.