Billionaire investor Leon Black has taken Rep. Robert Garcia to court over televised comments linking him to Jeffrey Epstein.

Court papers say Black claims Garcia "lied to the American people" about that relationship. Black says that at a June 26 hearing he told the assembled representatives — Garcia among them — he knew nothing about Epstein's crimes and played no role in them.

He alleges Garcia then appeared on national television and declared "Leon Black is at the center of Epstein's crimes."

Further comments cited in the suit

Another appearance allegedly had Garcia saying Black ranked among the last people who interacted with Epstein before the financier died by suicide in jail.

Garcia also said survivors he spoke with "credibly named Leon Black as someone who was involved in the direct abuse of women" and described him as "directly involved" in the trafficking ring Epstein faced charges over according to the complaint.

Black says those remarks brought threats and left him fearing for his safety. He also says Epstein deceived him along with many other sophisticated people.

Money sought and the House clash

Black says he ended contact with Epstein in October 2018 months before Epstein's 2019 arrest and death. He wants $7.25 million covering compensatory and punitive damages combined.

In September Garcia pressed to hold Black in contempt for skipping a House Oversight Committee deposition after a subpoena. Garcia's statement claimed Black bankrolled Epstein's trafficking operation and abuse and that several women had accused Black of sexual assault.