Leon Black, the billionaire co-founder of Apollo Global Management, told the House Oversight Committee on Friday that he was deceived by Jeffrey Epstein during a years-long relationship that involved $158 million in payments. Black insisted he committed no criminal wrongdoing, saying: "I knew Jekyll. I didn't know Hyde."
Black is the 16th witness to appear before the panel as part of its broader investigation into the financial network surrounding Epstein. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the committee chairman, called it potentially the most “groundbreaking” deposition yet, telling reporters: “This could be a pretty significant deposition as we try to get answers.”
The former Apollo CEO stepped down in 2021 after scrutiny over his ties to Epstein intensified. Black maintained Friday that he was unaware of Epstein’s “nefarious activity” until 2019, and that the payments were for legitimate consulting related to Epstein's “unrivaled network of relationships.”
Black is repeatedly mentioned in court files unsealed as part of the Epstein case, putting his testimony at the center of a widening congressional probe. The closed-door hearing signals lawmakers are intensifying efforts to map the financial and social web that enabled Epstein's operations.
The deposition comes amid ongoing questions about how Wall Street elites interacted with Epstein. Black's appearance adds to a growing list of high-profile figures scrutinized by the committee, though no criminal charges have been filed against him.