WASHINGTON — The House Oversight Committee voted 41-0 on Tuesday to recommend holding billionaire investor Leon Black in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas related to its investigation into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The contempt resolution now advances to the full House for a vote on whether to refer the matter to the Justice Department for possible prosecution. Any charging decisions would be made by the Justice Department. The timing of a full House vote remains unclear, as Congress is in its final week of session before Election Day.
The committee, led by Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., issued subpoenas after Black failed to appear for a scheduled deposition on September 3 and did not comply with requests to produce nondisclosure agreements. Black had previously walked out of a closed-door, transcribed interview with the panel in June, alleging that lawmakers were not addressing his concerns about the scope of their questioning.
Black, a co-founder of Apollo Global Management, has denied any wrongdoing and stated he regrets his past business relationship with Epstein. In a 2021 internal review, Apollo found that Black paid Epstein $158 million from 2012 to 2017 for tax and estate planning services. The review concluded that Black was not involved in Epstein’s criminal activities. Black has not been accused of wrongdoing by law enforcement.
Black’s attorneys have filed a lawsuit challenging the subpoenas, calling the committee’s actions a “complete abomination” and alleging an abuse of power. They argue the subpoenas are illegitimate and illegal, designed to retaliate against Black for protecting his legal rights. In a statement ahead of the contempt vote, attorneys Susan Estrich and Aaron Cutler wrote: “This is retaliation — plain and simple.”
The committee’s subpoenas sought documents related to nondisclosure agreements Black allegedly signed with Epstein, which Black’s legal team has denied. Emails released last year suggested Black confided in Epstein about personal matters, including extramarital affairs, though Black has stated Epstein had no involvement with any NDAs.
Comer has framed the contempt vote as a necessary step to compel compliance with congressional oversight. The committee’s investigation focuses on Epstein’s broader network and the extent of his influence, including financial and personal relationships with high-profile figures.
Black has maintained that he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities and that Epstein falsely claimed involvement in investment decisions. His legal team has also stated that Black never forced any woman to sign an NDA.
The full House is expected to consider the contempt resolution in the coming weeks, though no specific timeline has been announced. If approved, the matter would be referred to the Justice Department, which would determine whether to pursue criminal charges against Black for contempt of Congress.