Billionaire Leon Black Sues Rep. Robert Garcia for Defamation Over Epstein Comments

Billionaire investor Leon Black filed a defamation lawsuit Wednesday against Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., in the Southern District of New York, alleging the congressman knowingly and willfully lied about him in comments tied to Jeffrey Epstein. Garcia is the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating Epstein. The suit cites Garcia's statements that Black was "at the center" of Epstein's crimes and "directly involved" with them. Black, a former Wall Street private equity investor and Apollo Global Management co-founder, had a business relationship with Epstein. The complaint also cites a TV interview in which Garcia said Black was among the last people to communicate with Epstein before his death in prison, and that survivors had credibly named Black as involved in abuse. Black says he has received scores of hateful and threatening messages and hired a private security firm. He also argues that appearing on national television to make such statements goes beyond a member of Congress's role. A Black spokesperson said he has never abused a woman, never been with an underage woman, never been involved in sex trafficking and never paid Epstein for women. Garcia's office did not immediately comment. In September the Republican-led committee unanimously voted to hold Black in contempt for refusing subpoenas, and Black sued the committee.

The right-leaning Washington Examiner leads with the complaint's allegations. It identifies Garcia as a Democrat, focuses on his television remarks, and details Black's claims of malicious falsehoods, threats and security costs. It does not mention the contempt vote in the excerpt available. Its headline says Black "hits" Garcia with a suit. NBC News, on the left, leads with Garcia's role and the committee's subpoenas and unanimous contempt vote. It includes Garcia's September statement that Black funded Epstein's abuse and that multiple women accused him of assault, alongside Black's denials, and notes Democrats take the House in January. Both report the "at the center" quote and the Wednesday filing. TMZ's brief item, based on court documents, adds no distinct angle.