Leon Black Transcript Shows Brief House Epstein Interview And Details Of Epstein Ties
The House Oversight Committee on Friday released a transcript showing Leon Black's closed-door June 26 interview lasted under an hour and ended when his attorneys halted the session after he was served subpoenas.[1]
The transcript records Black saying nondisclosure agreements barred him from speaking on the record absent a subpoena.[1] He told lawmakers Jeffrey Epstein emailed him on Sept. 21, 2015, offering advice during negotiations over an NDA with Russian model Guzel Ganieva and called her alleged conduct "blackmail and extortion." CBS News Black denied Epstein negotiated that NDA or knew of other NDAs he had signed, and he reiterated he had a six-year affair with Ganieva, who later sued him unsuccessfully.[1] Members pressed Black about a poem he wrote for a Ghislaine Maxwell-compiled book for Epstein's 50th birthday in which he called Epstein his "best friend," and Black told the committee the language overstated their closeness.[1] He defended paying Epstein about $158 million for tax and estate planning, saying he initially believed fees were deductible and would total about $95 million, and he called the larger amount a bargain that saved him between $1 billion and $2 billion.[1] The transcript cites a 2021 Dechert review for Apollo finding the tax and estate work legitimate while saying Epstein misled Black about deductibility; Black also previously paid $62.5 million to settle related U.S. Virgin Islands claims in 2023.[1]
Black told the committee he met Epstein in the 1990s and stayed close for what he called Epstein's "Rolodex," saying Epstein introduced him to figures including Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak.[1] He again denied any knowledge of Epstein's alleged sexual abuse, sex with minors, or sex trafficking beyond Epstein's 2008 plea, and he said he never paid Epstein for access to women.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- The transcript released by the House Oversight Committee on Friday, July 17, 2026, shows Leon Black's closed‑door June 26, 2026 interview lasted less than an hour and ended after his attorneys halted the session when he was served subpoenas for certain nondisclosure agreements and a second interview; the transcript records Black saying NDA terms barred him from speaking on the record absent a subpoena (the transcript).
- Black testified that Jeffrey Epstein advised him by email on Sept. 21, 2015, during negotiations over a nondisclosure agreement with Russian model Guzel Ganieva, with Black describing her as engaging in alleged 'blackmail and extortion,' and Black denied Epstein negotiated the Ganieva NDA or was aware of other NDAs he had signed (Guzel Ganieva).
- Black reiterated to the committee that he had a six‑year affair with Guzel Ganieva, who later sued him unsuccessfully for rape and defamation while denying Black's extortion claims (Guzel Ganieva).
- Members questioned Black about a poem he wrote for a Ghislaine Maxwell–compiled book for Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday in which he called Epstein his 'best friend' and referenced Epstein's wide network of women; Black told the committee the language overstated their closeness (Ghislaine Maxwell).
- Black defended paying Jeffrey Epstein about $158 million for tax and estate planning—saying he initially believed the fees were tax‑deductible and would total about $95 million, yet still calling the higher amount a bargain he estimated saved him between $1 billion and $2 billion—and the transcript notes a 2021 Dechert review commissioned by Apollo Global Management found the work legitimate though Epstein misled him about deductibility; Black also previously paid $62.5 million to settle related claims with the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2023 (about $158 million).
- Black again denied any knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged sexual abuse, sex with minors, or sex trafficking beyond Epstein's 2008 plea and told the committee he never paid Epstein for access to women (Jeffrey Epstein's 2008 plea).
📰 Source Timeline (2)
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- On June 26, 2026, Leon Black's closed-door House Oversight Committee interview lasted less than an hour before his attorneys ended the session after he was served with subpoenas for certain nondisclosure agreements and a second interview.
- The committee on Friday, July 17, 2026, released the transcript of that June 26 interview, revealing Black said NDA terms barred him from speaking on the record absent a subpoena.
- Black testified that Jeffrey Epstein advised him by email on Sept. 21, 2015, during negotiations over a nondisclosure agreement with Russian model Guzel Ganieva, with Black describing her as engaging in alleged "blackmail and extortion."
- Black denied that Epstein was involved in negotiating the Ganieva NDA itself and said Epstein was not aware of any other NDAs he had signed.
- Black reiterated he had a six‑year affair with Ganieva, who later unsuccessfully sued him for rape and defamation while denying his extortion claims.
- Black told the committee he was introduced to Epstein in the 1990s and stayed close to him for his "Rolodex," saying Epstein introduced him to figures including Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.
- Black defended paying Epstein about $158 million for tax and estate planning, saying in the transcript he initially believed the fees were tax‑deductible and would total about $95 million but still called the higher amount a bargain that he estimated saved him between $1 billion and $2 billion.
- The transcript shows members questioned Black about a poem he wrote for a Ghislaine Maxwell–compiled book for Epstein's 50th birthday, in which he referred to Epstein as his "best friend" and wrote about Epstein's wide network of women; Black told the committee the language overstated their closeness.
- Black again denied any knowledge of Epstein's alleged sexual abuse, sex with minors, or sex trafficking beyond Epstein's 2008 plea and said he never paid Epstein for access to women.
- Black said a 2021 Dechert review commissioned by Apollo Global Management found the tax and estate work legitimate but that Epstein misled him about deductibility; he also previously paid $62.5 million to settle related claims with the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2023.