Leon Black refused to answer questions after Comer issues two subpoenas in Epstein probe

[0:00] California Congressman Robert Garcia, the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, [0:05] was just in that interview with Leon Black. He joins us now. Congressman, tell us what happened. [0:11] Look, at the end of the day, Leon Black is critical to this investigation. [0:15] $150 million from Leon Black went to Jeffrey Epstein. [0:19] There are survivors that we know have actually accused Mr. Black of really serious crimes and abuse. [0:26] And the fact that he won't answer questions with relating to these NDAs is huge. [0:31] And for us, for this investigation, what the chairman is doing right now is important. [0:36] These subpoenas will ensure that we get the NDAs, but also ensure that we actually get Leon Black in front of our committee, [0:42] under subpoena and under oath, so that he actually has to answer these questions. [0:47] These interviews should all be under oath. [0:49] And the fact right now that we're actually going to get Mr. Black under oath is really important. [0:53] So we actually commend Chairman Comer's decision here. [0:56] It's what Democrats have been asking for this entire time, is under oath depositions. [1:01] And so right now, we're actually waiting for Leon Black to make a decision whether he's going to continue, whether he's not. [1:07] He's been meeting with his lawyers, but the attorneys have been doing a good job of asking tough questions, questions he won't answer. [1:14] OK, let's talk about those tough questions, especially since this conversation is still happening, playing out in real time. [1:21] What are the questions you want to ask of Leon Black? [1:23] Look, we need to ask Leon Black where and why he gave Jeffrey Epstein $150 million and for what? [1:32] Because at the end of the day, we do not know. [1:34] We also now know that Leon Black is essentially ending this interview because he's being asked for information about these NDAs, [1:40] about these women, these women that were abused, that were targeted. [1:46] And so there's a lot of information that he has. [1:48] Look, we're just hearing right now that Mr. Black is probably going to walk out of this interview. [1:52] He's no longer going to continue. [1:54] What he needs to understand is that we're going to continue to be able to answer these questions because he's going to have to come back to us under subpoena. [2:00] I think that's going to be really important. [2:02] I'm sorry, Congressman. [2:03] Did you have an opportunity to sidebar with Chairman Comer in advance of his decision, his announcement that he was going to issue these subpoenas? [2:10] We've been communicating with Mr. Comer the entire time. [2:13] So I think he's doing the right thing here. [2:15] But I think right now I'm glad that Leon Black is going to have to come back under subpoena and answer our questions. [2:22] One of the women. [2:23] I actually think he's going to be coming out here right now in a minute. [2:26] We'll keep our cameras trained on him. [2:29] Turn your mic on. [2:33] That is Leon Black walking towards our cameras. [2:38] He is refusing to continue this interview. [2:42] He has now been issued subpoena by the chair of the House Oversight Committee. [2:49] We will check in with our own Michael Schnell on the other side to see if he was willing to answer questions of reporters. [2:55] Congressman, I want to come back to you because one of the women who accused Epstein of abuse in the files also said he directed her to give massages to Black [3:03] and to others, Black categorically denied abuse allegations in his testimony. [3:09] He said he was not aware of any, quote, nefarious activity from Epstein until he was charged with trafficking in 2019. [3:16] Still, he hired him after his 2008 conviction for solicitation of a minor for prostitution. [3:21] Were you able to address any of this in the time you've had with him? [3:27] Mr. Black, I want to answer questions. [3:29] I think what you just saw right now is exactly why this investigation is so important. [3:35] There are two men that provided most of the financial support to Jeffrey Epstein. [3:39] One is Les Wexner, and the other, of course, is Leon Black. [3:43] And the idea that Leon Black won't answer questions about these multiple NDAs, the fact that he won't answer questions about survivors and women that have made serious accusations, [3:54] that is why he will now have to come in under oath. [3:57] And I want to just say this is, I think, important for people to understand. [3:59] A lot of these interviews are not conducted under oath. [4:02] It's been a complaint from Democrats. [4:04] We want these interviews under oath, so they have to actually answer the questions and have to be truthful. [4:10] And so I think for Chairman Comer to make the decision and to switch strategy and to actually ask Leon Black to actually be under oath and answer questions, [4:20] I think is actually an important step. [4:21] I'm glad that's finally happening, and that should be the case for every single interview. [4:26] Only the majority, in this case Republicans in the House, have the ability to issue subpoenas unless there's a bipartisan vote. [4:33] So this is a good moment for this investigation, and Leon Black is at the center of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes. [4:40] He was very friendly with them. [4:42] They were described as being best friends, and he has an enormous amount of information. [4:45] I will add one other thing. [4:47] There's reporting that Leon Black also possibly traveled with President Trump. [4:50] There's connections to Russia. [4:52] There's connections to trafficking. [4:53] So all this information has got to come out. [4:55] This is the work you are doing inside the House Oversight Committee. [5:02] In tandem, you have a federal judge recently ordered the Justice Department to produce an unredacted, even more Epstein file, [5:11] saying it has not fully complied with the Epstein Transparency Act. [5:15] How does that potentially change the nature of what you're doing inside House Oversight? [5:20] Look, we are incredibly supportive and grateful for all the different lawsuits and the different actions that are being taken by the courts. [5:29] I mean, just recently, obviously, the fact that now we have a judge talking about standing, [5:35] the ability for journalists to actually get information to sue to ensure that all the files are released is so important. [5:42] Look, only 50 percent of the Epstein files have been actually released to the public. [5:47] About three million documents, half of the Epstein files, have not been released to the public. [5:55] Why? What's in those? [5:57] What information is critical to our investigation that's being hidden by the Department of Justice? [6:01] It's for these reasons that Todd Blanche, Cash Patel, and so many others need to be in front of our committee, [6:07] but in front of our committee under oath. [6:09] And I'm so glad that Leon Black, who has been at the center of this investigation and our work, [6:15] will now have to come back under oath. [6:16] We had an enormous amount of questions for him, and I'm glad we're going to be able to answer those with the security of an under oath testimony.