Billionaire Investor Leon Black is Accused of Raping Teen in Jeffrey Epstein’s NY Townhouse
Billionaire investor Leon Black is facing a new lawsuit accusing him of rape by a woman identified as Jane Doe. The lawsuit alleges that the assault occurred at Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse when Jane Doe was just 16 years old.
The lawsuit paints a harrowing picture of the incident, with the woman’s lawyers stating that she has autism and a rare form of Down syndrome that has left her with a developmental age of about 12 years old. According to the complaint, the assault left her bleeding and sobbing.
In response to the lawsuit, Leon Black’s lawyer, Susan Estrich, called it “frivolous” and filled with “vicious and defamatory lies.” She also accused the Wigdor law firm of manufacturing the suit, referring to a previous sexual assault complaint against Black that was thrown out.
A spokesman for Black, Whit Clay, supported Estrich’s denial, stating that the law firm “has an agenda” and that its credibility has been undermined by the dismissal of the previous suit.
Leon Black, the co-founder and former CEO of Apollo Global Management, has faced scrutiny over his association with Epstein. He left the firm in 2021 after allegations emerged that he regularly dined with Epstein and paid him for consulting and other services. An internal Apollo investigation cleared Black of any wrongdoing.
This latest lawsuit is the third to publicly accuse Black of rape, and he has denied all the allegations. In addition to the previous thrown-out case, another complaint filed by Cheri Pierson in November accuses Black of a violent sexual assault.
Epstein’s association with high-profile figures has drawn attention, and Ghislaine Maxwell, his longtime confidante, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for her role in the sexual abuse of underage girls.
The lawsuit against Leon Black was filed in New York federal court on Tuesday, the same day the Senate Finance Committee announced an investigation into his $158 million payment to Epstein, questioning whether it was part of a scheme to avoid paying over $1 billion in federal gift and estate taxes.
Black’s legal team responded to the investigation by declining to share additional information with the committee, stating that all the transactions were lawful and that Black has fully paid all taxes owed to the government.
Leon Black has previously expressed regret for his association with Epstein, characterizing it as a professional relationship focused on estate planning, tax, and philanthropy.
The lawsuit filed by Jane Doe seeks unspecified damages to be determined in trial.
