Billionaire Leon Black skips US congressional deposition over Epstein ties

Billionaire US investor Leon Black has failed to appear for a congressional deposition over his ties to notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, prompting calls by Democrats for contempt proceedings.Mr Black instead filed a federal lawsuit challenging the subpoenas, arguing that US politicians had exceeded their authority by demanding to see non-disclosure agreements he signed with women who have no known connection to Epstein."It's a shame Leon Black is hiding behind litigation rather than provide answers to the American people," the House Oversight Committee's Republican chairman James Comer said.Representative Comer added that the panel would proceed with an "empty chair" in the hearing room for the record and consult members over possible next steps.The committee's top Democrat, Robert Garcia, called for Mr Black to be held in contempt of Congress, saying he was now defying two subpoenas.The congressional committee is investigating late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's connections with the elite. (House Oversight Committee Democrats via Reuters)Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving minors, in what was determined to be a suicide.The scandal has cast a long shadow over President Donald Trump's second term, repeatedly forcing the White House onto the defensive as fresh disclosures and congressional investigations keep it in the headlines.Mr Trump, a longtime associate of the disgraced financier, fought for months to prevent release of the the Justice Department's so-called "Epstein Files" but eventually signed a law passed by Congress requiring their publication.The 80-year-old Republican's name appears in the documents repeatedly but he denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any criminal offences connected to the affair.Epstein had close ties with numerous other figures from the political and business elites, and Mr Black — the co-founder of Apollo Global Management — was one of his biggest clients.He acknowledged during an appearance before the committee in June that he paid Epstein $US158 million ($219 million) for tax and estate-planning advice.Jeffery Epstein's connections with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Peter Mandelson have already caused considerable damage to both men's reputation in recent months. (US Justice Department via Reuters)But he has said he knew nothing of Epstein's criminal activities and has denied abusing women.That June session ended abruptly after Mr Black declined to answer questions about some non-disclosure agreements, prompting members of the committee to subpoena him to return for a sworn, videotaped deposition and turn over related documents.His lawsuit argues that the demands bear "no legitimate connection" to the committee's legislative purpose and could expose women who had bargained for confidentiality."The committee is on a fishing expedition that oversteps its authority," Mr Black's attorney Susan Estrich said in a statement reported by multiple US media outlets, accusing committee members of trying to destroy her client rather than uncover the truth.More than a dozen survivors of Epstein's abuse had urged Mr Black this week to comply with the subpoenas, saying Congress should examine whether his non-disclosure agreements shed light on his relationship with Epstein and others in the financier's orbit.AFP