US House panel votes to hold Leon Black in contempt over Epstein subpoena

The United States House of Representatives has voted to hold billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress following his failure to comply with subpoenas issued by the House Oversight Committee. The committee is conducting an investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associates. The contempt resolution was passed by the full House one day after the Oversight Committee voted 41-0 to recommend the action.

The legal dispute centers on two primary issues: Black’s failure to appear for a scheduled transcribed deposition on September 3 and his refusal to fully comply with a subpoena requesting copies of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to which he has been a party. While Black provided the committee with one NDA, which his legal team stated was the only one known to Epstein, he withheld others.

Black, the former CEO and co-founder of Apollo Global Management, previously walked out of voluntary testimony before the committee in June after being questioned regarding his use of NDAs. He departed his firm in 2021 amid public scrutiny regarding his business ties to Epstein, which included payments totaling $180 million. Black has consistently denied wrongdoing in relation to these associations.

Following the House vote, Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer stated that the action serves as a reminder that no one is above the law and emphasized a commitment to transparency and justice for survivors. Congressman Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the committee, echoed these sentiments, describing the vote as a necessary step toward accountability and questioning the nature of Black’s financial dealings with Epstein.

In response to the vote, Black’s attorneys issued a statement characterizing the contempt holding as an outrageous action that ignores the facts of the case. Black has also initiated a legal challenge against the subpoenas issued by the committee.

The matter has now been referred to the U.S. Department of Justice, which will determine whether to pursue criminal prosecution against Black. If prosecuted and convicted, individuals found in contempt of Congress face a potential prison sentence ranging from one month to one year. It remains unclear at this time how the Department of Justice will proceed.