Leon Black, a former Wall Street private equity investor, on Thursday sued the House Oversight Committee, seeking to stop the panel from enforcing its subpoenas against him in an ongoing probe of the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.“The Committee is on a fishing expedition that oversteps its authority and completely ignores its responsibility.This is no longer about finding the truth about Epstein.
It is about trying to destroy Mr.Black.
We were left with no choice but to file this lawsuit in response to an abuse of Congressional power,” Black’s attorney, Susan Estrich, said in a statement.Black had been set to appear before the committee on Thursday morning.The lawsuit comes after Black voluntarily sat for a closed-door transcribed interview with the Oversight Committee in late June but left the hearing early.Lawmakers have for months sought more information on the financial web that allowed Epstein to fund his sex trafficking operation and whether Black was at all involved or aware of any illegal activity.They specifically have sought information about any non-disclosure agreements Black signed with women.Black has denied any wrongdoing, involvement in or awareness of Epstein’s illegal activity.In Thursday’s statement, Estrich said that Black was “misled” about the intentions of the committee’s chair, Rep.
James Comer, R-Ky.“Mr.Black has cooperated with the Committee by voluntarily appearing to answer questions in a transcribed interview.
Despite being misled about the intent of that interview, he then fully complied with the Committee’s subpoena related to Epstein,” Estrich said.She added, “To imply misconduct because of the existence of a confidentiality agreement is entirely unjustified.Confidentiality agreements are routinely used in business.”Estrich went on to wholly deny any allegations against Black, saying, “We want to reiterate that Mr.
Black had no awareness of the criminal activities that led to Epstein’s arr...