Billionaire Leon Black Sues Rep. Garcia for $7.25 Million

Billionaire Leon Black has sued Rep. Robert Garcia for defamation, seeking $7.25 million over Garcia’s public claims that Black was closely involved in Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes and that survivors identified him as participating in abuse. Black’s complaint calls the statements false and malicious, alleging they prompted threats and damaged his reputation, business and philanthropic work; one account says he hired private security after assessing risks to his family. Garcia has not publicly responded in the reports. The lawsuit comes amid congressional scrutiny of Black’s relationship with Epstein: Black acknowledges paying Epstein for tax and estate-planning services but denies knowing about or participating in Epstein’s criminal activity, and he has challenged subpoenas from the House Oversight Committee.