Key facts
- Rep. Thomas Massie accused Leon Black and David Copperfield of being co-conspirators with Jeffrey Epstein.
- Massie urged the Department of Justice to investigate these individuals and others involved in Epstein's crimes.
- Millions of Epstein-related files remain undisclosed by the government.
- Leon Black is facing a potential contempt of Congress charge for non-cooperation with a House investigation.
- FBI documents from 2007 indicated a 'clear connection' between David Copperfield and Epstein.
Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, has publicly accused billionaire private equity investor Leon Black and illusionist David Copperfield of being co-conspirators in the crimes of the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Massie repeated his call for the Department of Justice to launch an immediate investigation into these individuals and others he deems 'perpetrators' of Epstein's offenses.
Massie highlighted that nearly a year after the Epstein Transparency Act led to the release of some documents, millions more files remain undisclosed. He announced the introduction of the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, aimed at pursuing accountability through state courts and the Department of Justice.
Leon Black is also facing potential contempt of Congress proceedings due to his standoff with the House oversight committee over demands for testimony and documents related to Epstein. Black's spokesperson has not commented on the scheduled hearing or Massie's accusations. Black has previously stated his work for Epstein involved tax and estate planning and that he was unaware of Epstein's illicit activities until 2019, though he acknowledged knowing about Epstein's 2008 guilty plea to prostitution charges involving a minor.
James Comer, chairman of the House oversight committee, has threatened to hold Black in contempt if he does not cooperate. Black's lawyer, Susan Estrich, has refuted these claims, characterizing the situation as a 'political witch hunt'. Epstein's former lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, has also not yet confirmed his scheduled appearance before the committee.
Documents released by the Department of Justice earlier this year indicated that FBI agents investigating Copperfield in 2007 found a 'clear connection' between the illusionist and Epstein. Copperfield's legal team has previously denied any friendship with Epstein. Massie posted on X that he, along with Representatives Ro Khanna and Teresa Leger Fernández, had initiated a discharge petition to gather the necessary signatures to force a vote on the new transparency act.