Private equity billionaire Leon Black walked out of a transcribed interview with the House Oversight Committee on June 26 after refusing to answer questions about nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) allegedly related to disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The committee released the transcript on Friday, revealing Black's repeated refusals to discuss the NDAs, citing legal advice.
Black was issued two subpoenas following his refusals: one compelling him to participate in a deposition on September 3 and another requiring him to turn over any NDAs by the following week. His attorney confirmed compliance with both subpoenas.
Black, who had a decades-long social and financial relationship with Epstein, paid the latter over $170 million for "tax and estate planning advice," according to the Senate Finance Committee. During the interview, Black acknowledged discussing at least one NDA with Epstein but denied seeking his advice on the matter. He claimed he paid a woman with whom he had a six-year affair after she allegedly "blackmailed and extorted" him, agreeing to pay her over $21 million over 15 years. Epstein was aware of the agreement and payments due to his role in managing Black's finances.
Black agreed to discuss three women involved in lawsuits against him but refused to answer questions about the number of NDAs he was involved in or who had them. "I'm not here to talk about confidential NDAs," he stated, later adding, "I'm not here to talk about who has NDAs."
The House Oversight Committee's probe into the government's investigation of Epstein is ongoing.