Billionaire Leon Black sues U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia for defamation over Epstein statements

The federal lawsuit places a sitting member of Congress in a legal dispute over public statements regarding the congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, carrying potential financial and reputational stakes for both parties.

• •Leon Black filed a federal defamation lawsuit against U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
• •The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and $7.25 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
• •The legal action stems from TV interview comments where Garcia stated Black was at the center of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and interacted with him before his suicide.
• •Garcia also claimed on TV that survivors credibly named Black as being involved in the direct abuse of women with Epstein.
• •The House previously approved a resolution holding Black in contempt of Congress for defying Oversight Committee subpoenas.
• •Black appeared for a voluntary committee interview in June where he denied knowledge of Epstein's sex trafficking network.
• •A 2021 review commissioned by Apollo Global Management found that Black paid Epstein $158 million from 2012 to 2017 for tax, estate planning, and other services.
• •Lawmakers previously alleged that Black paid Epstein $180 million during their relationship.
• •Black stepped down as head of Apollo Global Management in 2021 amid fallout over his ties to Epstein.