Statement from Leon Black’s Attorneys on Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Mark-up and Contempt Resolution

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Susan Estrich of Estrich Goldin and Aaron Cutler of Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, the attorneys for Leon Black, submitted today the attached letters to Chairman James Comer, Ranking Member Robert Garcia and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. They offered the following statement on today’s actions:

“This Committee mark-up and contempt resolution is a complete abomination. The Committee under the leadership of Chairman James Comer and Ranking Member Robert Garcia has lost sight of its legislative purpose and is abusing its power.

“This is retaliation - plain and simple. We have the constitutional right to sue Chairman Comer and the Committee because the subpoenas issued were illegitimate, illegal, and a textbook abuse of power designed to bully and destroy legal protections of private citizens.

“We find it remarkable that Chairman Comer has audaciously decided to hold Mr. Black in contempt after engaging in what may be a violation of the Rules of the House of Representatives. He should not have proceeded with a mark-up that is based on such duplicitous and inappropriate actions. We have filed a confidential complaint this morning with the Office of Congressional Conduct requesting that the OCC open an investigation into Chairman Comer’s unethical tactics. Chairman Comer’s actions and his statements continue to prove that he is no longer interested in finding the truth about Epstein.

“Ranking Member Garcia is spouting hate-filled lies about Mr. Black in the media and at every opportunity. He’s relying on information from the Wigdor Law Firm, whose actions of lying, fabricating, and destroying evidence in their crusade to destroy Mr. Black were sanctioned by a federal judge. Wigdor’s civil lawsuits filed against Mr. Black were filled with vicious lies. One of those cases was dismissed with prejudice, the other withdrawn and dismissed with prejudice, and in the other the lawyer, Wigdor and the plaintiff have all been sanctioned. Ranking Member Garcia ignores these facts and instead hides behind the Speech or Debate Clause—even though his actions are putting Mr. Black, his family, and others at risk every day with violent and hate-filled threats against them.

“Mr. Black has repeatedly said that he feels terrible for Epstein’s victims and that he regrets ever doing business with Epstein. He never abused a woman. He never was with an underage woman. He never engaged in sex trafficking. He never paid Epstein for access to women. He was never blackmailed by Epstein. Mr. Black had no knowledge of any of Epstein’s heinous conduct. He never forced any woman to sign any NDA. He provided to the Committee the only NDA that was within the scope of the Committee's authority. That NDA was deemed by the New York State Supreme Court to be legal and was signed under no duress. The Supreme Court's decision was upheld by a New York State Appellate Court. Any suggestion by the Committee that Mr. Black forced any woman to sign an NDA is an outright lie.

“Mr. Black voluntarily appeared before the Committee, provided a detailed opening statement about his relationship with Epstein, and offered to answer questions about his legitimate payments for tax and estate planning services. Chairman Comer did not ask one question and sat silently as the transcript reflects from that day. His staff who he delegated questioning to on June 26^th did not ask one question about any of that and instead chose to subpoena Mr. Black.

“This entire charade is about politics and ambition. Given our litigation against Chairman Comer and the Committee, the possible ethics violations by Chairman Comer, and the false and potentially libelous and defamatory statements by Ranking Member Garcia, there were more than enough reasons to postpone this mark-up and contempt resolution. Yet, they persisted because they were willing to blindly and recklessly tear down a wealthy man just because they can. This has nothing to do with serving the American people and finding the truth about Epstein. Their actions are shameful and wrong.”

Note: Letters and associated exhibits attached to the letter are available upon request.