Leon Black Targets Rep. Garcia With Defamation Suit Over Epstein Comments
The billionaire alleges the California Democrat's statements were false and malicious, seeking damages for threats to his safety and reputation.
By Justin Barnes ·
Leon Black filed a federal defamation lawsuit against California Representative Robert Garcia on Wednesday, seeking $7.25 million in compensatory and punitive damages. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, targets specific comments Garcia made linking Black to Jeffrey Epstein.
Garcia appeared on a television interview weeks after Black's voluntary appearance before the House Oversight Committee in June. During that broadcast, Garcia stated that Black was at the center of Epstein's crimes. He also claimed Black was one of the last people to interact with Epstein before the financier's death in prison. Garcia further told viewers he had spoken with survivors who named Black as directly involved in the abuse of women.
Black's legal team asserts that these statements were false and made with malice. The filing argues that Garcia's comments have caused ongoing harm to Black's physical safety and professional standing. The document lists a barrage of hateful calls, emails, and social media posts as evidence of that damage. It also notes that Black's business and philanthropic activities have suffered since the remarks.
The lawsuit follows a House resolution approved in September that held Black in contempt of Congress. The resolution resulted from Black's refusal to comply with Oversight Committee subpoenas related to the Epstein investigation. Black had previously denied knowledge of Epstein's sex trafficking network during his June interview. His lawyers have characterized the committee's pursuit of the former Apollo Global Management head as an abuse of congressional power.
Lawmakers previously alleged that Black paid Epstein $180 million during their relationship. A 2021 review commissioned by Apollo determined that Black paid Epstein $158 million between 2012 and 2017. That review described the payments as compensation for bona fide tax, estate planning, and other services. Epstein had pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Black stepped down from Apollo in 2021 amid scrutiny over his ties to Epstein. He is among several prominent figures, including Bill Clinton and Bill Gates, who were asked to appear during the committee's probe. Garcia's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the new lawsuit. In September, Garcia had described the contempt resolution against Black as an important step toward justice and accountability.
