Leon Black walks out of Epstein probe hearing after NDA row
Billionaire investor Leon Black walked out of a closed-door House hearing into Jeffrey Epstein on 26 June 2026 after refusing to answer questions about non-disclosure agreements, lawmakers said. The abrupt exit forced the Oversight Committee to issue two subpoenas, escalating Congress's probe into wealth and influence around the late sex offender.
Key Takeaways
- Leon Black left a voluntary congressional interview when pressed on NDAs linked to women in Epstein's orbit.
- The House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas for his agreements and a sworn on-camera deposition.
- Black denies wrongdoing and says he had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes; his lawyers call the subpoenas a political stunt.
- Black paid Epstein $158 million and resigned from Apollo Global Management in 2021 amid scrutiny of their ties.
- Top Democrat Robert Garcia said Black "stormed out" and warned he would be held accountable for non-compliance.
Why did Leon Black walk out of the Epstein hearing?
According to the BBC, Black testified voluntarily before the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Lawmakers said he declined to answer questions about nondisclosure agreements he may have signed after they were raised during the session.
Black's attorneys confirmed to the BBC that he left once his legal team had "made their final comments." The committee's top Democrat, Robert Garcia, said Black "stormed out" when pressed about the NDAs and his relationship with Epstein survivors.
What subpoenas did Congress issue to Leon Black?
The panel chairman said lawmakers served two subpoenas before Black departed. One compels production of NDAs Black is party to; the second orders a formal on-camera deposition under oath.
Garcia backed the move and said Black "will be held accountable if he doesn't comply with our investigation." The exchange cut short a hearing that had been expected to probe one of the wealthiest figures named in Justice Department Epstein files.
What does Leon Black say about Jeffrey Epstein?
Black, co-founder and former CEO of Apollo Global Management, denies any criminal wrongdoing. He stepped down in 2021 amid fallout over his relationship with Epstein, whom he hired as a wealth-management adviser and paid $158 million for tax and estate matters, according to reporting cited by the BBC.
In congressional remarks reported by The Guardian, Black stated he was "not involved with, and had no knowledge of, any of Epstein's heinous conduct." He also denied abuse, trafficking, paying Epstein for access to women, or being blackmailed.
His attorney Susan Estrich called the subpoenas "a planned political stunt" and said Epstein "had no involvement with any NDAs, whether they exist or not." She added the committee did not ask about legitimate payments for professional services.
Why does Leon Black's Epstein tie matter for billionaires?
Black's name appears in Epstein files released by the Justice Department, placing him among elite financiers whose money and personal dealings lawmakers are tracing. CBS News, the BBC's media partner, reported he spoke with Epstein about personal matters, including extramarital affairs from which NDAs resulted.
The hearing underscores how net worth and wealth investigations can turn on document production and sworn testimony, not voluntary briefings alone. The Financial Times reported Congress is targeting Black as he denies knowledge of Epstein's heinous conduct, part of a broader effort to map who funded and protected Epstein's network.