Huge boost for billionaire being sued over claims he sexually abusing teen, as judge makes jaw-dropping ruling against plaintiff

By STEPHEN M. LEPORE, US SENIOR REPORTER Published: 00:37, 25 April 2026 | Updated: 00:38, 25 April 2026 A federal judge gave rape-accused Jeffrey Epstein associate Leon Black a victory in court by sanctioning one of his accusers and their attorney.  Billionaire financier Black, 74, is being sued by an unnamed woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by him when she was a teenager in 2002. But in an excoriating ruling, District Judge Jessica Clarke determined that the unnamed accuser  falsified and potentially destroyed evidence in the case. Clarke also ‌sanctioned the woman's former lawyer Jeanne Christensen of the Wigdor law firm, saying she 'lied repeatedly' about her interactions with a judge overseeing a different lawsuit relating to Epstein. The judge said the woman known by the pseudonym Jane Doe can still ​pursue her case, but cannot use as evidence some journals where she purportedly documented her ​experiences with Black, Epstein and others because they contained sonograms that were falsified. 'These alterations ⁠manifest a clear intent to mislead about what the sonograms represent,' Clarke said. Clarke also found Christensen ​directed Doe to delete her Twitter account where she discussed her alleged dealings with Epstein, hampering Black's ability ​to question Doe's credibility. Black has denied the woman's allegations and said he never met her. He has never been charged with any wrongdoing.  A federal judge gave rape-accused Jeffrey Epstein associate Leon Black a boost by sanctioning one of his accusers and their former attorney The woman's former attorney Jeanne Christensen was also sanctioned The former Apollo Global Management CEO can present evidence about the account's deletion and the 'likely relevance of its contents,' Clarke said. Black was once one of New York City's most powerful executives before he resigned over accusations of abuse and of being blackmailed by Epstein.    Wigdor partner Douglas Wigdor said in a statement that while they are 'upset about ​the sanction, we are pleased that our former client will get her day in court.' Susan Estrich, a lawyer for Black, ‌told The Daily Mail that Clarke's decision ⁠is a 'thorough repudiation of Doe's and Wigdor's claims — and their credibility.'  She said Doe should withdraw her lawsuit and apologize to Black. Doe has said she is autistic and was born with a form of Down syndrome. She alleged that in 2002, as she prepared to give Black a massage, Black pinned her down and ​penetrated her with sex toys, ​causing her to ⁠bleed. Doe said Epstein later found her crying but refused to let her see a doctor. She said she was 16 at the time. Black (right) stepped down from his role as CEO of Apollo in 2021 after he was revealed as a long-time associate of pedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein (left). They are pictured with Pepe Fanjul. We are informed that Fanjul only met Epstein on one occasion and before Epstein was charged. Doe seeks damages for Black's alleged violation of a New York City law against gender-motivated violence. Estrich labeled Doe's claims 'vicious and defamatory lies, masquerading as allegations' back in 2024. She said the accusations were 'intentionally manufactured by the Wigdor law firm as part of the firm’s vendetta against Mr. Black for vigorously and successfully defending himself over the past two years.' 'These allegations - about an incident that supposedly took place 20 years ago - are totally made up, entirely uncorroborated and, as pleaded, squarely violate the statute of limitations,' Estrich said. Black co-founded private equity firm Apollo in 1990. He departed in 2021, following a review by an outside law firm that found he had paid Epstein $158 million for tax and estate planning. He also struck a $62.5 million cash settlement with the U.S. Virgin Islands in January 2023 to avoid being tied to an Epstein sex trafficking investigation. According to court documents, Black agreed to pay the government in exchange for release from any current and future legal claims related to Epstein, who had purchased the islands of Great St. James and Little St. James. He agreed that $15 million of the payment would be funneled into a trust to fund counseling programs and mental health services. Black and wife Debra Black pose at the 39th Annual Party In The Garden at the Museum of Modern Art on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 in New York Black reached a $62.5 million cash settlement with the U.S. Virgin Islands government in 2023 to avoid any current and future legal claims related to Epstein (pictured: facilities at Little St. James Island, one of Epstein's properties) Under the sanctions, ​Christensen must file Clarke's decision in any case in New York, Connecticut and ​Vermont federal ⁠courts over the next year where she is counsel of record, and in some sanctions-related cases in those courts over five years.  Clarke also ordered Wigdor and Christensen to pay some of Black's legal fees. Wigdor ⁠withdrew as ​Doe's counsel in April 2025, and federal court records show ​that she has not yet obtained new counsel. Doe could not immediately be reached for comment. Epstein died in jail in August ​2019 after being charged with sex trafficking. New York City's medical examiner called the death a suicide. The Daily Mail has reached out to Christensen and Black's attorney for comment.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. 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