Leon Black, the co-founder of private equity giant Apollo Global Management, told Congress that he did not pay Jeffrey Epstein for sexual services, claiming instead that he was deceived by the financier he had hired as an adviser.
Black's statement, prepared for a congressional hearing, directly addressed allegations about his relationship with Epstein, who was convicted of sex trafficking before his death in jail in 2019. Black had previously acknowledged paying Epstein millions of dollars for tax and financial advice over a period of years.
In his prepared remarks, Black characterized himself as a victim of Epstein's deception rather than a knowing participant in any wrongdoing. He maintained that the substantial sums he transferred to Epstein were strictly for professional financial services, not for arranging access to women.
The assertion comes as Apollo and Black himself face ongoing scrutiny over the nature and extent of his ties to Epstein. The relationship has drawn particular attention given Epstein's well-documented predatory behavior and the broader reckoning with his enablers and associates in corporate and social circles.
Black stepped down as chief executive of Apollo in 2021 following an investigation into his relationship with Epstein, though he retained a seat on the board. The company later settled with investors who had raised concerns about Black's conduct and his failure to disclose the full scope of his financial dealings with the convicted sex trafficker.
His congressional testimony represents one of the first opportunities for Black to address the matter under oath and directly refute the most serious implications of the relationship.
Author James Rodriguez: "Black's duped-adviser defense sounds convenient, but millions in payments to a serial predator demand more than prepared remarks to clear the air."
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