Billionaire investor Leon Black told members of Congress on Friday that he did not know the extent of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes – and that he himself never abused women or had sexual relations with minors, according to a copy of his opening remarks shared by his legal team.
“I have never abused a woman. I have never been with an underage woman. I have never engaged in sex trafficking,” Black told members of the House Oversight Committee, according to his opening remarks. “I have never paid Epstein for access to women. I was never blackmailed by Epstein. I was not involved with, and had no knowledge of, any of Epstein’s heinous conduct.”
Black’s voluntary appearance before the panel marks the 16th closed-door interview that the committee has conducted in its bipartisan investigation into Epstein. He is one of numerous influential and wealthy individuals whose past relationships with Epstein have come under further scrutiny since the Justice Department’s release of millions of Epstein files.
On Friday, Black attempted to show empathy for Epstein survivors, saying in his opening remarks: “I feel terrible for Epstein’s victims.” He also said that while he was aware of Epstein’s conviction in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor, he believed Epstein’s explanation at the time.
