Billionaire Leon Black Is Being Investigated by the Manhattan D.A., Sources Say

[Nevilledog]

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Gabriel Sherman
@gabrielsherman
The Manhattan DA has opened a criminal investigation into billionaire and Jeffrey Epstein friend Leon Black over allegations Black raped and sexually abused two former models, sources said. My latest:

Billionaire Leon Black Is Being Investigated by the Manhattan D.A., Sources Say
Two former models have met with prosecutors following claims of rape and sexual assault against the former “best friend” of Jeffrey Epstein.
vanityfair.com
2:13 PM · Oct 25, 2021

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/10/billionaire-leon-black-is-being-investigated-by-the-manhattan-da

No paywall
https://archive.ph/gQwDQ

Last week the mandarins of high finance assembled at the Beverly Hilton for the annual conference hosted by former “junk bond king” Michael Milken. This year’s eclectic guest list included Questlove, Uma Thurman, and former Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin. One attendee certainly attracted extra attention: former Apollo Global Management CEO and chairman Leon Black. It was Black’s first high-profile appearance since two former models accused him in court documents of sexual assault, rape, and participating in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex ring (Black’s spokesperson has called the allegations “complete fiction”). According to the Financial Times, Black and his wife, Debra, attended a panel on distressed debt featuring their son Ben, a private-equity executive.

Black’s attempt to return to public life is being complicated by mounting legal problems. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has opened a criminal investigation into Black, according to two sources briefed on the probe. Sources said prosecutors are examining allegations in court documents that Black raped and sexually assaulted the two former models. The allegations were included in former Russian model Guzel Ganieva’s civil lawsuit against Black. Ganieva and a woman identified in court documents as “Jane Doe” recently met with prosecutors to discuss their claims, one of the sources said. A spokesperson for the Manhattan D.A. declined to comment.

A spokesperson for Black said, “We have no knowledge of any investigation of Mr. Black. As we have previously stated, Mr. Black has provided substantial documentary evidence in legal filings, including text messages and recordings, that show Ms. Ganieva’s claims to be completely false. In addition, we have been in contact with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and provided detailed evidence of Ms. Ganieva’s extortion of Mr. Black.” Ganieva’s lawyer, Jeanne Christensen, declined to comment specifically on the investigation, but said: “We believe in our clients and seek to hold Black accountable.”

Black’s personal and professional lives have been in a tailspin since January 2021, when the billionaire announced he was stepping down as CEO of private-equity giant Apollo following the emergence of his ties to Epstein. An investigation commissioned by Apollo’s board disclosed that Black had paid Epstein $158 million in fees between 2012 and 2017—after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a teenage girl. Black’s massive payments to Epstein for purported “tax advice” and “estate planning” struck many on Wall Street as amounting to a preposterously inflated sum for such services.

*snip*

[SheltieLover]

1. Is it just me

Does he resemble the slob?

[empedocles]

2. Seems like black was vulnerable for blackmail. He may know a lot about a lot of people.

If he needs bargaining chips with prosecutors - he may have a lot of bargaining chips.

[sarcasmo]

3. Maxwell information perhaps?