Black, the former Apollo Global Management CEO, has faced questions over his past ties to Epstein for years, with scrutiny intensifying after the justice department released millions of records related to Epstein late last year and earlier this year. In 2021, Black stepped down as chairman and chief executive of Apollo Global Management.

According to a report commissioned by Apollo several years ago, Epstein provided financial services to Black between 2012 and 2017. After Epstein pleaded guilty to Florida state prostitution charges in 2008, including procuring a minor, Black became Epstein’s largest client, paying him a total of roughly $170m in fees, according to an investigation by the Senate finance committee. Black has described his work for Epstein as tax and estate-planning services.

According to a copy of Black’s prepared remarks to Congress that was viewed by the Guardian, Black wrote that he is appearing “to set the record straight about my relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and, in particular, why I paid him the money I did”.