US billionaire Leon Black defies summons and sues Epstein investigation panel

Leon Black refused to appear before Congress, defying two subpoenas, according to Representative Robert Garcia. "By refusing to attest today, Leon Black is present defying 2 Congressional subpoenas," Robert Garcia, who sits connected the committee, said successful a connection aft Black failed to appear. Garcia continued, "His connections to Epstein and his unwillingness to cooperate are unacceptable. We indispensable clasp him successful contempt immediately," Garcia added. Contempt of Congress could lead the committee to refer Black to the Justice Department for possible prosecution. Chairman Jomes Comer also commented, stating, "It's a shame Leon Black is hiding down litigation alternatively than supply answers to the American people," Chairman Jomes Comer said. "Mr Black's grounds is important to our investigation." Black has said he employed Epstein as a wealthiness absorption adviser, telling the House Oversight Committee in June that he had paid Epstein $158m (£120m) for morganatic purposes over the course of their years‑long association. He said he did not know about Epstein's "nefarious enactment" until Epstein was charged with trafficking in July 2019. Black appears in the Epstein files released by the Justice Department, which contain photos, videos and investigative documents relating to the disgraced financier. There is nary proposition that appearing in the documents implies immoderate wrongdoing. Black had a six‑year relationship with former Russian model Guzel Ganieva, which ended with allegations of abuse, tribunal records show. According to a suit filed by Ganieva against Black, which was later dismissed, he prepared a nondisclosure statement in 2015 to unafraid her silence. Epstein offered Black advice, including suggesting in an email to his adjunct that Black prosecute former law enforcement officers to attack Ganieva, according to files released by the US Justice Department. Estrich, Black's attorney, has dismissed Ganieva's accusation as "demonstrably false." Black himself has previously said he was the unfortunate of extortion. A judge later dismissed Ganieva's lawsuit, citing the NDA she signed and the roughly $9m (£6.6m) she had received in the years after entering the agreement. Black departed Apollo Global Management, the firm he co‑founded, in 2021, saying at the time that "relentless nationalist attraction and media scrutiny" of his ties with Epstein had taken "a toll" on his health.