In the years since Jeffrey Epstein’s arrest and death, Congress has ordered the release of millions of pages of investigative records that identify powerful figures, document years of investigations, and raise continuing questions about accountability. One of the officials now at the center of that process is Todd Blanche, whose time as Deputy Attorney General and later Acting Attorney General put him in charge of the Justice Department’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Blanche, President Donald Trump’s former personal criminal defense attorney, became Acting Attorney General in April after Pam Bondi was dismissed. Before that, he had already been overseeing the department’s review of the Epstein records as Deputy Attorney General. During that period, he supervised the release of millions of pages of documents, personally interviewed convicted Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and came under heavy criticism over redactions, delays, and claims that his close relationship with Trump, whose name appears in the files, created a conflict of interest.

This is the latest installment in our series examining the people connected to the Epstein story. Each article looks at an individual’s background, their documented role, what official records and government actions show, the allegations or criticisms raised in court, Congress, or public statements, their responses, and the wider context surrounding the investigations, legal rulings, and continuing debate.

Our approach remains simple. We aim to separate documented facts from unproven claims and political interpretation. Wherever possible, we present the subject’s own statements alongside court records, congressional transcripts, released files, and official Justice Department positions. We avoid speculation because the purpose of this series is to show what the evidence supports, what remains disputed, and which important questions have yet to be resolved.

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In the years since Jeffrey Epstein’s arrest and death, millions of pages of investigative records have been released, naming powerful figures, documenting financial transactions, and detailing serious allegations. Among the names that appears repeatedly is Leon Black, whose financial relationship with Epstein included some of the largest post-conviction payments the financier ever received.

Black, the billionaire co-founder of Apollo Global Management, has acknowledged paying Epstein approximately $158 million between 2012 and 2017 for what he says were legitimate tax and estate planning services.

During recent congressional testimony, he stated, “I knew Jekyll. I didn’t know Hyde.”

He has also said unequivocally, “I have never abused a woman. I have never been with an underage woman. I have never engaged in sex trafficking. I have never paid Epstein for access to women.”

The files, lawsuits, and public records, however, describe a far more complicated relationship spanning more than two decades. They document social ties, board appointments, large wire transfers, visits to Epstein’s properties, and later civil accusations of sexual misconduct, all of which Black has denied.

This is the first installment in our new series, The Epstein Network, which examines one prominent individual at a time whose name appears in the Epstein files. Each article will cover that person’s public background, every documented connection to Epstein and his associates, what the released records actually say, the specific allegations made in court or elsewhere, the individual’s own responses and denials, and the broader context provided by settlements, investigations, and official reviews.

Our goal is straightforward. We want to give readers a clear, fact-based resource that separates verified records from unproven allegations. Wherever possible, we include the subject’s own words alongside court documents, released files, and official statements. We avoid speculation and sensationalism because the purpose of this series is to show readers what the evidence contains, what it does not contain, and where important questions remain unanswered.

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