Leon Black Sues Robert Garcia Over Epstein Remarks

Leon Black filed a federal defamation lawsuit against Rep. Robert Garcia on November 4, seeking $7.25 million in compensatory and punitive damages over Garcia’s public remarks linking Black to Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. The complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York, requests a jury trial. The court has not ruled on the allegations. Black alleges Garcia knowingly made false statements in television interviews after Black spoke with the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in June. The complaint cites Garcia’s remarks that Black was “at the center” of Epstein’s crimes, was among the last people to interact with Epstein before his death, and had been identified by survivors as involved in abuse and Epstein’s trafficking network. Those statements are allegations in the lawsuit, not judicial findings. Black’s filing says the remarks prompted threats and hostile calls, emails and social media posts, and harmed his business and philanthropic activities. Black also alleges he incurred private security costs. The complaint’s account of those effects has not been tested in court. Garcia’s office had not immediately responded to requests for comment on the...