U.S. House Committee votes to hold Leon Black in contempt over Epstein subpoenas

The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to hold billionaire investor Leon Black in contempt of Congress after he declined to comply with two subpoenas issued by the House Oversight Committee in its investigation of financier Jeffrey Epstein. The measure, approved by unanimous consent without a formal roll‑call vote, directs the matter to the Department of Justice for a decision on whether to pursue criminal charges.

Black, the former chief executive of a major private‑equity firm, was subpoenaed to appear before the committee and to produce any nondisclosure agreements related to the federal government’s handling of the Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases. He has not responded to the committee’s requests, prompting the contempt referral.

Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R‑Ky., said the action underscores that “no one is above the law” and affirmed the committee’s commitment to transparency and justice for survivors. The panel’s top Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, described the vote as “an important step toward justice and accountability.”

Lawyers for Black characterized the contempt proceeding as an abuse of congressional authority, arguing that the investigation targets a private individual who is not a government official. They have not indicated plans to contest the referral to the Justice Department.

The contempt referral now rests with the Justice Department, which will determine whether to file criminal charges against Black for defying the congressional subpoenas. No decision from the department has been announced at this time.

The action follows a recommendation from the Oversight Committee earlier in the week, which had voted to hold Black in contempt and forward the recommendation to the full House. The bipartisan effort reflects the committee’s broader inquiry into the federal government’s handling of the Epstein and Maxwell criminal cases.