Key facts
- Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse have urged billionaire Leon Black to appear before the House oversight committee.
- They called on Black to comply with subpoenas and produce nondisclosure agreements related to his relationship with Epstein.
- Black previously stated he was unaware of Epstein's criminal activities until 2019.
- House oversight committee chairman James Comer threatened contempt proceedings if Black does not cooperate.
- Representative Thomas Massie called for a DOJ investigation into Epstein's associates, including Black.
More than a dozen survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse have publicly called on billionaire Leon Black to cooperate with the House oversight committee's investigation into his connections with the late financier. In a letter released Wednesday, the survivors urged Black to appear for his scheduled deposition on Thursday and to fully comply with congressional subpoenas, including the demand for all relevant nondisclosure agreements (NDAs).
Black, a New York private equity investor, paid Epstein substantial fees for tax and estate-planning services. He has faced accusations of obstructing the committee's inquiry. The survivors emphasized that Black's use of NDAs highlights the need for Congress to scrutinize these agreements to understand his relationship with Epstein and his associates. They warned that if Black continues to withhold records or refuse compliance, Congress should use all available means to enforce its subpoenas.
Last week, House oversight committee chairman James Comer threatened to hold Black in contempt if he did not fully cooperate. As of Tuesday, Black had not confirmed his appearance. In a prior statement to the committee in June, Black denied knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities until Epstein was charged in July 2019, though he acknowledged being aware of Epstein's 2008 guilty plea to state charges related to prostitution involving a minor.
Separately, Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, recently read the names of several of Epstein's associates, including Black, on the House floor. Massie called on the Department of Justice to investigate this group, referring to them as "perpetrators" of Epstein's crimes. He also pointed out that millions of Epstein files remain unreleased nearly a year after Donald Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act.