House Oversight Committee to question Leon Black again in Epstein probe, seeking details on “birthday book” and friendship

The House Oversight Committee said billionaire Leon Black will be subpoenaed for a second interview with investigators in September as part of its continuing inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein. The committee is seeking additional information about Black’s alleged communications with Epstein, including matters connected to what the committee described as a “birthday book,” and questions about the nature of their relationship.

Black was previously contacted in connection with the committee’s probe and is now scheduled for another interview after investigators sought additional details, CBS News reported. The follow-up comes as lawmakers look into Epstein-related conduct and the broader circumstances surrounding Epstein’s financial arrangements, including who worked with him and how.

According to CBS News, Black has been linked to Epstein through a $158 million payment connected to tax advice. The Oversight Committee’s renewed push for testimony and documents centers on what investigators say would clarify how Epstein’s associates communicated and coordinated, and what role Black may have played in those arrangements.

The committee’s interest in the “birthday book” reflects lawmakers’ focus on documented interactions and interpersonal connections that may help explain the timeline and scope of Epstein’s relationships, investigators said. The committee’s questions about a personal friendship, as characterized in reporting, are aimed at establishing context for any alleged business or advisory ties.

The upcoming September interview is expected to occur under the committee’s subpoena authority, giving Oversight a formal process for compelling testimony. If Black complies, committee staff would use the interview record to assess whether additional witnesses or documents are needed, including any follow-on requests that may arise from answers provided.

The committee’s next steps will likely depend on what investigators learn from Black’s second interview, including whether lawmakers pursue additional subpoenas for other individuals tied to Epstein or further requests for communications, records, and other materials relevant to the Oversight Committee’s review.

The inquiry remains separate from any criminal or civil cases involving Epstein, and Oversight’s findings are not self-executing policy actions. Instead, the committee’s work is focused on gathering information and determining whether further legislative or oversight actions are warranted.