Leon Black sues Robert Garcia over Epstein remarks

Leon Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, brought a federal defamation case on November 4 against California Rep. Robert Garcia, challenging remarks Garcia made about Black’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein. The complaint, lodged in Manhattan federal court, asks for a jury to hear the case and awards $7.25 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

Garcia made the comments in a television interview weeks after Black voluntarily spoke with the House Oversight Committee in June. Black denied knowing about Epstein’s sex-trafficking network. Garcia said Black was at the center of Epstein’s crimes and that survivors had credibly identified him as involved in abuse. Garcia further stated that Black was among the final individuals to have contact with Epstein before his death by suicide in prison.

Black’s lawyers say the claims were false and malicious. The filing alleges that Black has faced threats to his safety, antagonistic phone calls, messages and social media activity, and harm to his business and philanthropic work. Garcia’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit follows the House’s September vote to hold Black in contempt for refusing subpoenas seeking his testimony and any nondisclosure agreements related to the Epstein investigation. Garcia called the vote an important step toward justice and accountability. Black’s attorneys have described the committee’s actions as an abuse of congressional power and say Black knew nothing of Epstein’s crimes.

An assessment commissioned by Apollo concluded that Black had paid Epstein $158 million between 2012 and 2017, following Epstein’s 2008 conviction after admitting to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. The assessment characterized the payments as compensation for tax, estate-planning and related services. Black stepped down from Apollo in 2021 amid scrutiny of his ties to Epstein.

Black’s suit challenges Garcia after Congress demands Epstein answers

The legal fight over scrutiny of Jeffrey Epstein’s circle has moved into court: Leon Black is suing Rep. Robert Garcia after the congressman publicly connected Black to Epstein’s crimes and cited survivors’ accounts. Black filed the defamation case in New York on November 4, seeking $7.25 million and a jury trial.

The suit follows the House’s September contempt vote against Black, who refused subpoenas seeking testimony and any nondisclosure agreements tied to the investigation. Garcia called that vote an important step toward justice and accountability. Black’s lawyers, meanwhile, characterize the committee’s pursuit as an abuse of congressional power.

Black denies knowing about Epstein’s sex-trafficking network. But an Apollo-commissioned review found Black paid Epstein $158 million between 2012 and 2017, years after Epstein admitted guilt in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. The assessment indicated that payments covered tax, estate-planning and related services.

Black’s lawsuit says Garcia’s statements were false and malicious, and alleges threats, hostile messages and harm to Black’s business and philanthropy. Garcia’s office did not immediately respond. The case puts a defamation claim against a congressional investigator in the same public dispute as demands for answers about Black’s ties to Epstein.

Garcia faces $7.25 million defamation suit over Epstein claims

Rep. Robert Garcia is facing a $7.25 million defamation lawsuit after making grave public claims about Leon Black’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein. Black filed the case in federal court in New York on November 4, alleging that Garcia’s statements were false and malicious.

Garcia said in a television interview that Black was at the center of Epstein’s crimes and that survivors had credibly named him as involved in abuse. Black’s lawyers say the remarks have led to threats, a barrage of hostile calls and messages, and damage to his business and philanthropic work. Garcia’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The case arrives several weeks following the House vote to hold Black in contempt for refusing subpoenas from the Oversight Committee, which sought his testimony and any nondisclosure agreements connected to the inquiry. Black’s attorneys have called the committee’s pursuit an abuse of congressional power and maintain that Black knew nothing of Epstein’s criminal conduct.

An assessment commissioned by Apollo concluded Black paid Epstein $158 million from 2012 to 2017, characterizing the payments as compensation for tax, estate-planning and related services. The assessment also noted the payments occurred after Epstein’s 2008 admission of guilt to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. The lawsuit now asks a jury to decide whether Garcia’s televised accusations crossed the line into defamation.