Billionaire Leon Black Sues US Congressman Robert Garcia For $7.25 Million Over Epstein Comments

Billionaire businessman Leon Black, co-founder of private equity giant Apollo Global Management, has filed a $7.25 million defamation lawsuit against US Congressman Robert Garcia, accusing the California Democrat of making false and malicious statements linking him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his sex trafficking crimes.

The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeks compensatory and punitive damages and a jury trial. Black alleges that Garcia damaged his reputation through public comments suggesting that he was directly involved in Epstein's criminal activities and the abuse of women.

The legal action follows a television interview in which Garcia described Black as being "at the centre of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes". The congressman also claimed that Black was among the last people to interact with Epstein before his death in a prison in August 2019.

Garcia further said he had spoken to survivors who had credibly identified Black as someone involved in the direct abuse of women and connected to Epstein's activities.

Black's lawyers have rejected these allegations, describing Garcia's statements as knowing lies. According to the lawsuit, the comments have resulted in threats to Black's physical safety, abusive phone calls, emails and social media messages, while also damaging his business and philanthropic activities. Garcia's office had not immediately responded to requests for comment.

The lawsuit comes less than two months after the US House of Representatives approved a resolution holding Black in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with subpoenas issued by the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into Epstein. The subpoenas sought his testimony and potential non-disclosure agreements connected to the investigation.

Black appeared voluntarily before the committee in June 2026, where he denied having any knowledge of Epstein's sex trafficking network. His lawyers have repeatedly accused lawmakers of abusing their congressional powers.

Black's financial relationship with Epstein has also attracted scrutiny. Lawmakers have alleged that he paid Epstein $180 million over several years. However, a 2021 independent review commissioned by Apollo Global Management found that Black paid Epstein $158 million between 2012 and 2017 for what it described as legitimate tax, estate planning and related services.

These payments continued after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor. Black stepped down as Apollo's chief executive in 2021 amid scrutiny over his association with Epstein, while maintaining that he had no knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities.