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Billionaire defends $158M Epstein payment: 'I knew Jekyll. I didn't know Hyde'
By The Associated Press at KTSM 9 News (NBC)
· June 26, 2026
· 1 min read
Billionaire investor Leon Black said Friday that Jeffrey Epstein deceived him during a yearslong relationship in which he paid the disgraced financier $158 million, but insisted he committed no criminal wrongdoing as he appeared before the House Oversight Committee.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The revelation of Leon Black's $158 million payment to Jeffrey Epstein has significant implications for the El Paso community, particularly in the realm of financial transparency and accountability. As a city with a strong presence of financial institutions and investment firms, El Paso residents may be wondering how such a large sum of money could be funneled to an individual with a questionable reputation. The fact that Black claimed to have been deceived by Epstein raises questions about the due diligence and vetting processes in place among high-net-worth individuals and financial institutions. El Pasoans should be paying close attention to how this situation unfolds, as it may have broader implications for the city's own financial sector and the measures in place to prevent similar instances of deception and potential wrongdoing. The city's business leaders and financial regulators should be taking note of this case and considering how to strengthen their own safeguards against such activities.
About this story
Original reporting by KTSM 9 News (NBC) . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KTSM 9 News (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 26, 2026 ·
Source: KTSM 9 News (NBC) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Billionaire investor Leon Black said Friday that Jeffrey Epstein deceived him during a yearslong relationship in which he paid the disgraced financier $158 million, but insisted he committed no criminal wrongdoing as he appeared before the House Oversight Committee.
When was this published? This article was first published on June 26, 2026 by KTSM 9 News (NBC) and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by The Associated Press at KTSM 9 News (NBC). To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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