Jeffrey Epstein probe sparks bill to let sexual-abuse survivors break NDAs

The chair of a legislature committee trying to pry non-disclosure agreements from billionaire Leon Black for its Jeffrey Epstein investigation projected a measure connected Wednesday that would let victims of intersexual maltreatment to break NDAs.

Rep. James Comer announced the measure a time aft the House Oversight Committee unanimously voted for a solution to clasp Black, the Epstein subordinate and erstwhile CEO of Apollo Global Management, successful contempt of Congress for refusing to comply pinch a lawsuit requiring him to manus complete each of his NDAs, and immoderate successful his possession that reference Epstein aliases Ghislaine Maxwell.

"During our investigation, we've learned really powerful men weaponized nondisclosure agreements to soundlessness survivors of intersexual abuse," Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said successful a connection Wednesday. The projected measure would guarantee that sexual-abuse survivors and different group pinch accusation astir specified maltreatment could speak freely astir it, he said.

Business Insider reported earlier this twelvemonth that immoderate of Epstein's accusers person signed confidential settlements pinch friends of Epstein whom they person besides accused of misconduct, according to 3 group pinch nonstop knowledge of specified settlements. The settlements see NDAs, the group said. One personification told Business Insider they had nonstop knowledge of settlements pinch 4 of Epstein's friends who were accused of intersexual misconduct by much than 20 women betwixt them.

The House Oversight Committee successful June issued 2 subpoenas to Black erstwhile he refused to reply questions astir NDAs successful a closed-door question and reply astir his interactions pinch Epstein. Black, who gave complete $150 cardinal to Epstein for what he said were financial services, walked retired of that voluntary interview.

This month, Black sued the committee alternatively than comply pinch the subpoenas. One lawsuit demanded NDAs; the different required him to attest nether oath successful a deposition.

Epstein died successful 2019 while awaiting proceedings for national sex-trafficking charges. Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years successful prison aft a Manhattan assemblage recovered her blameworthy successful 2021 of trafficking girls to Epstein for sex.

Black has said he wasn't alert of Epstein's intersexual maltreatment of women. His suit says the committee didn't person a "valid legislative purpose" for "such a sweeping and intrusive lawsuit served upon a backstage citizen."

If passed into law, the projected bill, called the Survivor's Voice Protection Act, would void nondisclosure clauses if they prohibit victims of intersexual maltreatment from disclosing those experiences, aliases if they barroom immoderate different personification from disclosing facts related to specified abuse. The rule would besides create a fiduciary work to pass rule enforcement astir suspected intersexual grooming of minors.

Democrats connected the House Oversight Committee person not yet said whether they would support the law.

The House of Representatives hasn't scheduled a ballot connected whether to clasp Black successful contempt of Congress. Black's lawyers called the Oversight committee's solution "a complete abomination."

"This is retaliation — plain and simple," attorneys Susan Estrich and Aaron Cutler said successful a statement. They said the subpoenas were "illegitimate, illegal, and a textbook maltreatment of powerfulness designed to bully and destruct ineligible protections of backstage citizens."

People pinch non-disclosure agreements tin beryllium legally compelled to speak astir their experiences pinch a subpoena, but not successful a voluntary question and reply pinch Congress. Some of Epstein's different associates, including Bill Gates, said successful voluntary interviews that they didn't motion immoderate non-disclosure agreements pinch Epstein aliases Maxwell victims.

Many states banned NDAs related to intersexual abuse during the #MeToo activity pursuing reporting astir Harvey Weinstein, but nary specified prohibition exists connected a national level.