Full Breakdown
Leon Black Testifies Before House Oversight Committee About Epstein
6/26/2026, 10:13:08 PM
Core Event
On June 26, 2026, Leon Black, co-founder and former CEO of Apollo Global Management, gave a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee. He addressed his $158 million payments to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from 2012-2017 and denied any involvement in sexual abuse or trafficking.
Background
Black first met Epstein in the 1990s and began paying him for wealth-management advice in 2013. An Apollo-commissioned review in 2021 examined 60,000 documents and concluded the payments were for “bona fide tax, estate planning and related services.” Black stepped down from Apollo in 2021 after the scrutiny intensified.
Data & Statistics
Payments to Epstein total $158 million (Apollo) versus $170 million cited by Sen. Ron Wyden. Three civil suits allege sexual assault; one was dismissed, one withdrawn, one remains pending. The internal probe interviewed over 20 people and examined 60,000 documents.
Official Statements & Responses
Black told lawmakers he feels terrible for Epstein’s victims, insists he never abused a woman or a minor, and says he only learned of Epstein’s 2019 trafficking charge then. He called Epstein “Jekyll” he knew, not “Hyde.” Rep. James Comer called the deposition groundbreaking; Rep. Robert Garcia warned Epstein could not have acted without Black’s support. Sen. Ron Wyden has requested a forensic accounting of the payments.
Criticism & Opposition
Committee members said Black signed many nondisclosure agreements with survivors and that the $158-$170 million sum “vastly exceeded” typical advisor fees. Two women allege Epstein trafficked them to Black; his lawyers call the claims “completely false.” Critics argue the payments helped sustain Epstein’s influence after his 2008 conviction.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources report $158 million (Apollo) versus $170 million (Sen. Wyden) transferred to Epstein, and disagree on the services provided. Apollo’s internal probe found no wrongdoing; the Senate Finance Committee’s review questions that conclusion. No federal indictment ties Black to Epstein’s trafficking, and the FBI says it has “no credible information” of such links.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I have never abused a woman. I have never been with an underage woman. I have never engaged in sex trafficking. I have never paid Epstein for access to women. I was never blackmailed by Epstein.” — Leon Black, Testimony
- “I feel terrible for Epstein’s victims.” — Leon Black, Testimony
- “I knew Jekyll. I didn't know Hyde,” — Leon Black, Testimony
- “Jeffrey Epstein would not have been able to commit his horrific crimes without the support of Mr. Black,” — Rep. Robert Garcia, Committee
Why It Matters / Impact
The hearing highlights gaps in financial-industry oversight when ultra-wealthy individuals channel large sums to disreputable advisors. Lawmakers argue the case exposes weaknesses in anti-money-laundering controls and could prompt stricter disclosure rules for wealth-management services.
What’s Next
The committee plans further subpoenas, including testimony from other high-profile figures linked to Epstein. Investigators will continue forensic analysis of the $158-$170 million flow to assess whether the payments concealed illicit activity. Congressional leaders have signaled coordination with the Justice Department for possible additional action.
