Leon Black accused of raping autistic girl with Down syndrome at Epstein townhouse
Disgraced private equity tycoon Leon Black is the co-founder of Apollo Global Management, the company that owns the rights to the Venetian resort in Las Vegas, before Controlling Harrah's Entertainment, he was accused of having autism, Down syndrome, and raping girls.
A lawsuit filed this week in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York alleges that Black, 71, raped a 16-year-old girl in 2002. The incident occurred at the Manhattan townhouse of convicted child sex offender and human trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
The plaintiff's lawyer said her client, now in her 30s, was diagnosed with Mosaic Down syndrome shortly after birth and her "developmental age" was now around 12 years old. The federal criminal complaint alleges that Black restrained the girl and penetrated her with an "adult toy" as she prepared to give him a massage at Epstein's townhouse on New York's Upper East Side.
Black, who was valued at $10.2 billion by Forbes, resigned from Apollo in 2021. It was previously reported that he paid the late Epstein at least $158 million for "financial services" between 2012 and 2017. Black claimed the money was used for a range of financial services, including trust and estate planning and philanthropy. But he acknowledged that, in hindsight, dealing with Epstein was "a terrible mistake."
"Everything I have learned about Epstein's reprehensible and despicable behavior over the past two years, I deeply regret having any contact with him," Black said.
denies rape
Blake's attorney told NBC News that the rape charges filed this week were "frivolous and sanction-worthy."
These malicious and defamatory lies disguised as accusations were knowingly fabricated by Wigdor Law Firm as part of the firm’s retaliation for Mr. Black’s vigorous and successful defense over the past two years,” said Black’s attorney, Susan Strauss said. “These allegations — purportedly relating to events that occurred 20 years ago — are completely fabricated, completely unsubstantiated, and, as alleged, a complete violation of the statute of limitations. "
This isn't the first time Blake has denied rape accusations.
Earlier this year, Black successfully persuaded a New York state court to dismiss rape charges against him by accuser Guzel Ganieva. Judge David Cohen said she received a $9.5 million payment from Black in 2014 under a confidentiality agreement that barred her from making a legal claim. Cohen pointed out that Ganieva did not sign the agreement under duress. Ganieva was an adult at the time of the alleged rape.
Black continues to fight another rape accusation brought against him by a woman named Cherry Pearson. She claims she was "brutally attacked" by Black at Epstein's townhouse in 2002. Pierson claimed her excuse for going to the townhouse was that Epstein told her Black could help her launch a skin-care line she was developing.
She remembers screaming and screaming at the top of her lungs... trying to kick. She struggled to free her legs from his vicious grasp, but he was too strong," Pearson's lawsuit states. Black has denied the accusations, and Estridge said they are "baseless," representing "Abuse and Abuse of the Courts".
Pearson is also represented by Wigdor Law Firm.
Epstein took secrets to his grave
Epstein committed suicide in August 2019 at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan. At the time of his death, he faced multiple federal charges, including trafficking minors for sex in Florida and New York.
Earlier this year, Black paid $62.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands government to waive claims related to Epstein. The late sex offender owned a private island there called Little St. James, where he allegedly organized numerous crimes against underage girls and trafficked women for his friends and clients.
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Source: www.casino.org
