Epstein associate Leon Black sues Rep. Robert Garcia, alleging defamation

Billionaire investor Leon Black, a longtime associate of the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, sued Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) for defamation Wednesday, accusing the congressman of falsely claiming he was involved in the convicted sex offender’s abuse of women.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New York, seeks more than $7 million in damages over remarks Garcia made in a television interview about the extent of Black’s relationship with Epstein. The lawsuit comes as Garcia is expected to become chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee following Democrats’ sweeping victories in the midterm elections.

In one interview, Garcia said Black was “at the center of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes” and claimed he was one of the last people to have contact with Epstein before his death in a New York jail in 2019.

Garcia also said he had spoken with survivors who had “credibly named Leon Black as someone that was involved in the direct abuse of women” and alleged that he was directly involved with Epstein.

Black, the billionaire co-founder and former chair of Apollo Global Management, disputes those claims and argues that Garcia knew his statements were false but still made them in order to boost his political standing.

The lawsuit accuses Garcia of seeking to capitalize on public anger over Epstein’s crimes and the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files. He claims Garcia’s comments have cost Black investment opportunities and damaged his business relationships.

Black also claims he has spent nearly $800,000 on private security after receiving threats following Garcia’s remarks.

“The lies have eroded Mr. Black’s standing in the business community, interfered with his ability to raise capital and carry on his professional activities, and damaged relationships he spent a career building,” the filing states.

The lawsuit is part of an ongoing battle between Black and the House Oversight Committee, which has been tasked with investigating Epstein’s network of wealthy and influential associates.

In September, the House voted to hold Black in contempt of Congress after he refused to comply with subpoenas seeking testimony and documents related to Epstein, including potential nondisclosure agreements involving women connected to the financier.

Black, who has challenged those subpoenas in a separate lawsuit, has acknowledged paying Epstein $158 million for tax and estate planning services but has denied knowing about or participating in his criminal activities. He maintains that he cut ties with Epstein in 2018.