Leon Black tells House Oversight Committee he was deceived in Epstein payments totaling $158 million, denies criminal wrongdoing

Billionaire investor Leon Black told members of the House Oversight Committee on Friday that he was deceived by Jeffrey Epstein and said he did not commit any criminal wrongdoing after paying Epstein $158 million over yearslong interactions, according to PBS NewsHour’s account of his appearance. Black’s remarks came as lawmakers pressed for details about the circumstances surrounding the payments and his relationship with Epstein.

Black, who said he “knew Jekyll” but “didn’t know Hyde,” argued that Epstein presented one face to Black while concealing other conduct. He maintained that the payments were made in the context of what he believed to be a legitimate or at least lawful arrangement, and he disputed characterizations that he knowingly participated in criminal activity.

The hearing took place in the setting of congressional oversight, where committee members typically focus on accountability, financial and institutional relationships, and whether any misconduct went undetected or improperly addressed. In Black’s testimony, the central issue was his knowledge and intent at the time he paid Epstein, particularly whether those payments reflected awareness of wrongdoing or were made under false pretenses.

Committee questioning, as described by PBS, focused on how Black could justify the payment amounts and why he stayed connected to Epstein despite the risks and red flags that later became publicly known. Black’s defense was centered on alleged deception by Epstein during their relationship, with Black portraying himself as misled about what Epstein was doing behind the scenes.

The record of Black’s testimony also included his insistence that he should not be held personally criminally liable based on what he said were Epstein’s concealed actions. He characterized the payments as reflecting his understanding of events at the time, rather than endorsement or participation in criminal conduct, and he framed his involvement as being undermined by Epstein’s alleged deception.

Black’s appearance occurred amid continuing public and congressional scrutiny of Epstein and related networks, including questions about how individuals and institutions responded when knowledge gaps became apparent. For the House Oversight Committee, the practical focus is determining what was known when, who knew it, and what due diligence, if any, was performed in connection with large financial transfers.

Following the hearing, the committee is expected to continue its work examining the relationships and documents connected to Epstein, including how such funds were handled and what steps were taken once allegations or concerns emerged. For Black, the testimony establishes, at least in his account to Congress, a specific chronology and a claimed basis for his knowledge and intent at the time of the payments.