Leon Black Exits Epstein Interview Over NDA Inquiry
WHO:
CBS News - Leon Black, billionaire financier, and the House Oversight Committee.
CBS News - Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Guzel Ganieva, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Ehud Barak.
WHAT:
[07:17 PM EDT] - CBS News - The House Oversight Committee released the transcript of Leon Black's interview, which lasted less than an hour before his attorneys ended the session.
[07:17 PM EDT] - CBS News - Black stated that Epstein solved "a massive estate problem for me, that none of the experts and lawyers I consulted had been able to solve."
[07:17 PM EDT] - ABC News - Black is expected to provide the NDAs to the committee by the end of next week and appear for a deposition on Sept. 3.
[07:17 PM EDT] - ABC News - Black has been accused of rape in three lawsuits, with two cases dismissed and one pending, where a judge imposed sanctions on the lawyer representing Black's accuser for lying.
CBS News - Leon Black's interview with the House Oversight Committee ended abruptly after less than an hour when subpoenas were served.
CBS News - The committee is seeking copies of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) signed by Black.
CBS News - Black paid Epstein approximately $158 million for tax and estate planning services.
CBS News - Black stated that he initially believed he would pay about $95 million for Epstein's services.
CBS News - Black paid a $62.5 million settlement to the U.S. Virgin Islands after being sued over his financial support of Epstein.
CBS News - Black contributed a poem to a book for Epstein's 50th birthday, referring to him as his "best friend."
WHERE:
CBS News - The interview took place in Washington, D.C. (implied by the House Oversight Committee's location).
WHEN:
CBS News - Black's interview occurred on June 26.
CBS News - Black is scheduled to return before the committee under subpoena in September.
WHY:
[07:17 PM EDT] - ABC News - Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., stated that many survivors have pointed to Leon Black as someone they were afraid of and engaged in some of the sexual crimes.
CBS News - Black's attorneys described the subpoenas as "a planned political stunt."
CBS News - Black denied any involvement or knowledge of Epstein's alleged abuse of women, sex trafficking, or solicitation of prostitution from a minor.
HOW:
[07:17 PM EDT] - ABC News - Black described Epstein as having "exaggerated, embellished, manipulated, and outright lied – prolifically and without concern for me or my family."
CBS News - Black's interview was interrupted by the serving of subpoenas for NDAs while the session was still ongoing.
(UPDATED July 18, 2026 05:43 UTC)
The House Oversight Committee has released the transcript of Leon Black's interview, which was cut short by his attorneys after less than an hour. During the session, Black claimed that Epstein helped him solve a significant estate issue that had stumped various experts and lawyers. Black is expected to submit non-disclosure agreements to the committee by the end of next week and will appear for a deposition on September 3, while facing accusations of rape in three lawsuits, with two dismissed and one still pending.
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(UPDATED July 18, 2026 00:14 UTC)
Leon Black's interview with the House Oversight Committee in Washington, D.C. ended abruptly after less than an hour when subpoenas were served, as the committee seeks copies of nondisclosure agreements he signed. Black, who previously paid Epstein approximately $158 million for tax and estate planning services, has denied any involvement in Epstein's alleged abuse and described the subpoenas as "a planned political stunt." He is scheduled to return before the committee under subpoena in September.