Billionaire Leon Black defends $158M paid to Epstein: 'I knew Jekyll. I didn't know Hyde'

By — Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/billionaire-leon-black-defends-158m-paid-to-epstein-i-knew-jekyll-i-didnt-know-hyde Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Billionaire Leon Black defends $158M paid to Epstein: 'I knew Jekyll. I didn't know Hyde' Politics Jun 26, 2026 12:51 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Billionaire investor Leon Black said Friday that Jeffrey Epstein deceived him during a yearslong relationship in which he paid the disgraced financier $158 million, but insisted he committed no criminal wrongdoing as he appeared before the House Oversight Committee. Black is the 16th person to appear before the committee as part of their broader investigation into the web of wealth and influence around Epstein. Before entering the closed-door deposition, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the House committee chairman, told reporters he believed it might be the most "groundbreaking" yet. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. "This could be a pretty significant deposition as we try to get answers," said Comer. Black is the co-founder and former chief executive of the private equity firm Apollo Global Management. He stepped down in 2021 amid fallout over his ties to Epstein. Watch the clip in the player above. Black maintained Friday that he was not aware of Epstein's "nefarious activity" until 2019 and that he paid Epstein for legitimate purposes, in part due to his "unrivaled network of relationships" with influential figures. "I knew Jekyll. I didn't know Hyde," said Black. Black was featured prominently in the Epstein files Black is mentioned repeatedly in files that the Department of Justice has released related to the Epstein investigation. He also appears in a collection of birthday messages sent to Epstein that were released by the House committee last year, including a poem attributed to him that refers to "Blond, Red or Brunette, spread out geographically." A 2021 review commissioned by Apollo found that Black paid Epstein $158 million from 2012 to 2017, after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor. The review said the payments were for "bona fide tax, estate planning and other related services." Watch the clip in the player above. "I gave Epstein a second chance, as did many others. I wish I had not," Black said. Epstein was indicted in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. The Justice Department alleged that Epstein created a vast network of girls, some as young as 14, for him to sexually abuse between 2002 and 2005. He died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. READ MORE: Epstein's longtime accountant testifies on his wealth and business ties The House committee chairman, Rep. James Comer, R